Winner: Thumbelina Goes Back to Back

Impressive last start winner Thumbelina (3 f Per Incanto – Matauri, by Ocean Park) took the next step when winning the $45,000 Myracehorse Rating 65 1200 metres on Saturday at Ellerslie.

After making it look easy in the Pearl Series Maiden Fillies & Mares 1200 metres (eligible $26,000 bonuses) on 13 March at Pukekohe, Thumbelina rated a top three chance from barrier two, and combined again with reigning Champion Jockey Craig Grylls.

From sixth on the inner, Thumbelina was presented with a saloon passage in the straight and while challengers loomed wider out, she kept quickening appreciably near the rail to affect another impressive victory. 

“She began a lot better than she had been and settled well just in behind them,” Grylls said. “She didn’t do anything too erratic and has grown up a bit. 

“I was going to come out in the straight, but the ones in front of me rolled out and I got a nice run through.

“She’s put them away with ease despite stepping up to the next grade against a good field on a Saturday, so it was a good effort, and I think she can step up again.”

On Soft5 footing, Thumbelina ran 1200 metres in 1:11.0, last 600m in 34.6 (approx.), and paid $3.70 & $1.70 on the NZ TAB tote.

“It was a top ride by Gryllsy to get the run on the fence and she really accelerated to win with a fair bit of conviction,” said Mark Walker, training partner with Sam Bergerson. 

“She’s a filly that is continuing to grow in confidence, recording two wins from five starts now, and we think at this stage that she’s a bit more comfortable going right-handed.

“Full credit to our assistant trainer Reece Trumper, he has a really good association with the owners, was instrumental in introducing them to the stable, helps them with the planning of their horses and they’re racing very well.”

In training for owners Cliff Matson and Katrina Dansted, Thumbelina is by the in-form sire Per Incanto, a son of Street Cry (Machiavellian), the same sire at the incomparable Winx, winner of 25 Group One races.

On course, Trumper said: “It was a great ride by Gryllsy, he gets on with her really well and she hasn’t been the easiest to deal with. We’ve been really patient with her and she’s improved out of sight. 

“She’s probably a filly that will be better as a four-year-old, but she’s doing the job now and getting through the grades.

“Janice, Cliff, Katrina, and Isobelle, have allowed us to handle her patiently and we’ll be looking for more races with good prize money here at Ellerslie.”

A dual Champion Sire in Hong Kong, Per Incanto is continuing to grow in stature as an elite international sire and also won the Centaine Award for top worldwide progeny earnings in 2024/25, where $20 million in prize money surpassed that of 10-time Champion Sire Savabeel (Zabeel).

Thumbelina also has a strong connection with Haunui Farm, that bred and prepared the filly for sale as a yearling at Karaka, and managing director Mark Chitty, who is also Deputy Chairman at Auckland Thoroughbred Racing (ATR) was on hand to present to the owners.

Out of the debut winning filly Matauri, by another sire that is having a great run at present, Ocean Park (Thorn Park), Thumbelina is from a family nurtured by breeders Don and Rochelle McLaren, in conjunction with Haunui Farm. 

Matauri is a half-sister to Francee (Iffraaj), whom Te Akau recently trained for Haunui Farm to win four races and she provided the trainers with their 18th stakes' win last season when winning the Listed Rangitkei Cup (1600m) at her final appearance.

The dam of the pair, Calveen (Canny Lad), won 10 races and over $500,000 in stakes. She impressed winning Group races over 1600 metres, including the Group 1 Easter Handicap (1600m), and along with her dam, Calvinia (Varick), became a very good producer.

Including Francee and winner of five and Group Three placed Delveen (Encosta de Lago), Calveen produced six individual winners, while third dam Calvinia (Varick) left 10 individual winners of 40 races and over $1.5 million in stakes. 

“Calvinia was a filly bought by Paul Moroney in Sydney, and Don and Rochelle (McLaren) raced and then bred from her,” Chitty said.

“We raced the mother Matauri who was a debut winner at Avondale, but never really went on with it, but this filly (Thumbelina) has a lot of Ocean Park about her and she’s very athletic. 

“It’s a great filly family that has left a lot of winners, and after presenting recently to the owners when Fortune Cookie (Proisir) won at Pukekohe, it’s great to be here again and giving them a bottle of champagne in the Ellerslie winner’s circle.”

In reply, Katrina Dansted said: “I’d like to thank the sponsors and thank the trainers, they’re amazing. 

“We’ve had great success and hopefully we’ve got a lot more to come. We love the game and if the horse’s race well then we’re happy. What more could you want?”

Thumbelina has a nice influence breed-shaping sire Mr. Prospector in her pedigree, on the sire line of Per Incanto and dam line of Matauri. 

Thumbelina was strapped by Rhiannon Smith. 

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