Winner: Sabatini Super on Debut

In training for breeder/owner Gerry Harvey (Westbury Stud), sporting their royal blue and white crossed sashes, Sabatini (4 m El Roca – Amarantha, by Van Nistelrooy) recorded a debut victory in the $25,000 Golf Warehouse Maiden 2YO & Up 1200 metres on 27 April at Ellerslie. 

Solid through the trials' stage, most recently when held together to finish fourth on 16 April at Tauranga, Sabatini sought to emulate the fresh-up abilities of her dam Amarantha (Van Nistelrooy) who finished second in her first two starts as a two-year-old before winning over 1300 metres as a three-year-old in Australia.

Into barrier seven when the field was finalised, Sabatini secured a decent trip three back on the outer, was clear to challenge at will in the straight and sustained a brave finish to narrowly beat her closest pursuer, Pure Lotus (Lean Mean Machine), by a half-head margin. 

On Soft5 footing, Sabatini ran 1200 metres in 1:12.0, last 600m in 35.5 (approx.), and paid $8.40 & $2.60 on the NZ TAB tote.

Sabatini was ridden by reigning Champion Jockey Craig Grylls, who looks assured of defending his title again this season. Grylls rode a double for Te Akau trainers Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson on Saturday at Te Rapa, winning aboard Talisker (Embellish), fresh-up in the $40,000 Allied Security Open Handicap 1400 metres and Drops Of God (Hello Youmzain) in the $100,000 Group 3 Windsor Park Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m).

Grylls rode another double for the stable at Ellerslie, following the win on Sabatini with a polished ride aboard blueblood filly Avantaggia (Wootton Bassett), the first foal out of Te Akau bought and trained nine-time Group One winner Avantage (Fastnet Rock).

Following the win by Sabatini, Walker said: “Having your first start at Ellerslie is always a tough assignment, because of the overall strength of the racing there, but she was up to the task and did it nicely.

“She was well ridden by Craig Grylls, to negate a little bit of a tricky draw, and, as mentioned, if you can win your first race day start at Ellerslie then it generally means they have the potential to go on.

“Gerry Harvey and the team that manage Westbury Stud have allowed us the time to give her a pretty thorough grounding at the trials, and it has paid dividends to get a first-up win.

“We think she’s a mare that will only get better with more racing experience and the way she won today suggests she certainly has a competitive streak in her.”

Sabatini is by Westbury Stud resident sire El Roca, a son of Champion Sire Fastnet Rock (Danehill), who was a terrific racehorse, winning two stakes’ races over 1200 metres and a strong Group performer that Group One placed. 

El Roca has two Group One winners to his credit, one being Romancing The Moon, bought cheaply as a yearling by Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM, who displayed plenty of conviction when winning five times to 1600 metres, including the Group 1 Levin Classic (1600m).

The current season has been a highlight for El Roca, with his progeny achieving plenty of success: Dream Roca won the Karaka Million 2YO (Restricted Listed, 1200m), Swiss Prince in the Group 2 Sarten Memorial (1400m), Lollapalooza won the Group 3 Gold Trail Stakes (1200m), and Atmospheric recently won the Listed Anzac Mile (1600m). 

Sabatini became the fourth individual winner for stakes' placed and winning mare Amarantha, whose progeny has now won 12 races, while the third dam Kiwi Magic (Vice Regal) produced dual Group 1 winner Flitter (Bluebird), a Champion Older Mare in Australia. 

Sabatini was strapped by Ajay Kumar. 

Photo credit - Kenton Wright - www.raceimages.co.nz