Winner: System of Play Debut Perfect

Commencing his career in the best possible manner, System Of Play (2 c Ole Kirk – Statuesquely, by Medaglia d’Oro) staged a massive performance to win the $35,000 Beyond Water 2YO 1200 metres on Saturday at Te Rapa.

Debuting after a good effort to win at the trials on 7 April at Ellerslie, System Of Play had trialled well on three occasions and rated a top three chance first-up. 

If anything was against System Of Play, it appeared to hinge around drawing wide (9) in a field of 12, but aided by a competitive pace he was able to counter the situation by settling back and unleashing a devastating finish.

Ridden by Michael McNab, System Of Play was third last and standing the leader six lengths at the 600m, before tracking into contention with cover, and once presented in the straight he exuded a beautiful action when sprinting home to win.

“The draw dictated how we needed to ride him, but I knew he was good enough to get back and pick them up like that,” McNab said. 

“He showed me that he’s a pretty good colt, I know that, I’d watched Opie (Bosson) trial him the other day and he thought he was pretty good.

“When the opportunity came up to ride him, I went over to gallop him and my thoughts were the same. He’s a very nice colt.”

Under clear skies, on footing upgraded to Soft5, System Of Play ran 1200 metres in 1:11.5, last 600m in 34.5 (approx.), and paid $4.10 & $1.80 on the NZ TAB tote. 

“It was beautiful to win like that on debut, especially from such a tricky barrier draw,” said Mark Walker, training partner with Sam Bergerson. 

“I loved the way Michael (McNab) settled him back in the field, kept him balanced, relaxed, got him breathing nicely, and he was very strong in the finish.

“Sam (Bergerson) and I discussed tactics this morning and decided if he was good enough then he could still come from back in the field, which you can do at Te Rapa because it’s such an even track and gives every horse its chance. 

“He was an expensive purchase by Dave (Ellis) at the Ready To Run Sale, so it’s great for the ownership group, and he looks to have a very bright future.”

On course, Bergerson added: “He’s been an impressive colt from day one and he’s certainly going the right way.

“He’s been very natural, straightforward, and I can’t thank the team at home enough, they’ve done a fantastic job and he keeps going from strength-to-strength. 

“Opie (Bosson) got off after his last trial and said he’s a proper horse, and he’s just kept ticking the boxes in the stable and it’s great that we’ve struck a good track here today for him to kick off his career like he did. 

“I can’t wait to get him back in the spring and steer him towards a 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) or something like that.”

Impressive when breezing-up down the straight at Te Rapa, prior to being purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $480,000 at the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale, from the draft of Ohukia Lodge, System Of Play is owned by Te Akau Brickonian Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM).

“The ex-Chairman of Waikato Thoroughbred Racing, John Elstob, owns 25 percent of this colt and we also have loyal owners and supporters Glenn Brausch and Doug Alexander here in the Winner’s Circle, too, so thanks to everyone involved and congratulations,” said Ellis, accepting on behalf of the owners. 

“We bought this horse last November, so the owners haven’t had to wait long, and the training team has done a fantastic job readying him to race as a two-year-old.

“We’ve had a lot of rain over the past fortnight here in the Waikato, but the track staff have done a great job preparing it for racing today and it really is in great order.

“It’s not often you see two-year-olds come from that far off the pace to win, so it was a tremendous performance by System Of Play, a lovely ride by Nabba (Michael McNab), and it looks like his three-year-old season is shaping up to be very exciting.”

System Of Play is from the second crop of Australian Champion 3YO Colt and Leading First Season Sire in Australia Ole Kirk, by Champion Sire and proven sire of sires Written Tycoon (Iglesia).

Winner of the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) and stallion making Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m), Ole Kirk has already left 48 individual winners, including six stakes’ winners, recent Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) winner Ole Dancer and debut stakes winning two-year-old King Kirk in the Group 3 Arrowfield Breeders’ Plate (1000m).  

Ole Kirk is out of a mare by Bel Esprit, the sire of Black Caviar who was unbeaten in 25 starts including 15 Group One.

System Of Play is the second foal out of Statuesquely, a dual winner to 1600 metres and Group 3 placed, by highly respected international sire Medaglia d’Oro (El Prado), the sire of Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m) winner and sire Vancouver. 

Grand-dam Fonssagrives, by Champion Sire and Champion Broodmare Sire Encosta de Lago (Fairy King), left four individual winners, in turn out of dual Group One winning miler Lotteria, by Champion Sire and Champion Broodmare Sire Redoute’s Choice (Danehill), who left six individual winners.

To cap an impeccable line-up of Champion Sires on the dam side of the pedigree, fourth dam Rose Reward is by breed shaping stallion Sir Tristram, whose bloodlines remain evident within the very best horses globally, including recent Melbourne Cup winner Half Yours (St Jean) and VRC Oaks winner Strictly Business (Grunt). 

It is also the family of Singapore Horse of the Year, The Inferno (Holy Roman Emperor). 

At the time of purchase, Ellis said: “Ole Kirk has made a fantastic start to his stallion career as Leading First Season Sire in Australia, and is one of the most promising young sires we’ve seen in many years.

“We were very impressed by the way he breezed up, especially how natural and professional he was when galloping. He looks to have the precocity to race as a two-year-old and the pedigree and scope to step up distance as a three-year-old and older.”

System Of Play was strapped by Tom Murphy. 

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