WINNER: Viridian Very Good

Te Akau homebred filly Viridian (3 f Noverre – Niamh Elizabeth, by Per Incanto) recorded a stylish second start victory in the $40,000 Nick O’Leary Farrier 3YO 1400 metres on 13 November at Waverley. 

Having commenced on a bright note, when finishing strongly from back in the field (fastest last 600m: 34.7) for second in the Maiden 3YO 1200 metres on 23 October at New Plymouth, Viridian appeared ideally placed to go one better and punters agreed as she started $2.00 race favourite. 

Ridden by leading jockey Michael McNab, who also combined on debut, Viridian got back of five runners after receiving a squeeze at the start, but travelled well while biding her time and once balanced up in the straight she displayed good amounts of quality and stretch to score.

On footing then upgraded to Soft6, Viridian ran 1400 metres in 1:24.8 and last 600m in 34.7 (approx.). 

“It was a really nice win,” said Mark Walker, training partner with Sam Bergerson. “I loved the way she relaxed back in the field and showed a superior turn of foot to get up and win.

“Noverre is really starting to hit his straps now, with his first crop three-year-olds, and he has some promising horses in New Zealand and Australia.

“We know this family well. She was bred on the farm at Te Akau Stud, and we’ve seen her as a foal, right through to the yearling stage, and now winning a race at just her second start.

“She’s developed nicely and looks like she’s only going to get better with more maturity and up in distance, as well.

“She showed good attributes in the win and looks like a filly that we can aim at some black type races."

A beautifully put together filly, with plenty of size and scope, Viridian is bred and owned by Glenn and Catherine Holmes and Te Akau Stud.

Viridian is from the first crop of Waikato Stud stallion Noverre (Savabeel), whose progeny are now emerging as three-year-olds, while dam Niamh Elizabeth (Per Incanto) ensures a strong Te Akau influence in the pedigree.

Both the sire and dam were purchased as yearlings by Sir David Ellis at Karaka, with Noverre sealing his future when winning the Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas in 2021, while winning mare Niamh Elizabeth has produced five individual winners including stakes' placed dual winners Irish Red and Cu Chulainn, both by five-time stakes' winning sire Burgundy (Redoute’s Choice), whom Sir David also bought as a yearling at Karaka.

It was actually Sir David that kicked things off in the family when he raced Thrive (Colombia) with his good friend and breeder Ken Browne. 

Thrive was out of the dam of Niamh Elizabeth, Trove (Paris Opera), bred by Tom and Jane Lowry, from their Okawa Stud family, before being purchased by Browne, while third dam Fun (Three Legs – Enjoy, by Aythorpe) produced In Joyment (St Hilarion), who included six wins over staying distances and amassed stakes of $579,974.

A winner at her second start in New Zealand, In Joyment transferred to Gai Waterhouse in Sydney where  she won the Group 1 Metropolitan Handicap (2500m) in 1998.

Sir david purchased Niamh Elizabeth for $62,500 at the 2014 NZB Select Yearling Sale, and she was a handy mare that won over 1200 metres at Matamata. 

“We’ve been involved in the family for a few generations and it’s great to see another nice filly come from it,” Ellis said.

“She ran a really good race for second on debut and she was well placed by the training team to win a $40,000 race at just her second start.

“I was quite taken by the performance. She knew where the winning post was and Nabba (Michael McNab) timed the run perfectly.

“She’s left some talented horses, Niamh Elizabeth, and her sire, Per Incanto, along with the promise shown by the stock of Noverre is really exciting.”

Viridian was strapped by Riley Lovett. 

Photo credit - Peter Rubery - www.raceimages.co.nz