Stepping in the right direction, Mitre Peak (3 f More Than Ready – Liten Prinsessa, by Bernardini) produced a big effort to win the $22,000 3YO 1400 metres on 12 July at Riccarton. Having won the Pearl Series Maiden Fillies & Mares 1200 metres (eligible $26,000 bonuses) on 31 May and finishing close third in the 3YO 1400 metres on 13 June, both on the poly track at Riccarton, Mitre Peak brought the right form amongst similar company to rate a top three chance.
Continuing her fine association with Te Akau apprentice Niranjan Parmar, who leads his peers in the apprentice premiership, Mitre Peakwas content to lope along at the rear (seven lengths 600m), presented to the outside on straightening and let down with raking strides in a well timed finish to snare victory. In beating strongly supported Motiontime (Showtime), who had won four races, the performance by Mitre Peak was in keeping with the good progress she had made since recently winning her Maiden. Running 1400 metres in 1:24.0 on the poly track, in the race sponsored by Speight’s Summit Ultra On Tap, Mitre Peak returned $6.30 & $1.50 on the NZ TAB tote.
Click HERE to see the race replay
For the Te Akau South Island stable at Riccarton, managed throughout the season by Hunter Durrant and Ashley Handley, Mitre Peakbecame the 62nd win from the Riccarton base, among a total of 168 for premiership leading trainers Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson.
Co -Trainer Mark Walker was on track at Riccarton to watch his charge’s inpressive win “She looked terrific in the coat and it was a really good run to win, so well done to Ashley and Hunter,” he said. “They’re two highly accomplished horse people, totally dedicated and professional and we’re very fortunate to have them on staff. They’ve helped manage the horses and staff for Sam and I in the South Island and it’s all worked well to have that many wins from the stable there this season. Well done to John Galvin and his owners – they have allowed us to be patient with this filly and she’s now starting to string together some good performances. It was a really good win today because she stuck her neck out and tried very hard.”
MITRE PEAK – 2nd career win – Riccarton 12th July – Niranjan Parmar aboard
Fortuna Director John Galvin watched the race on Trackside from his Hamilton home. “My heart went into my mouth when she was slowly away,” he said. “She seemed to travel well and on the corner I thought she was a chance to run in the money, but she really motored home down the straight and she had me well and truly up and out my chair that last 200m – she showed a great turn of foot – very pleasing as she’s beaten a good field – and a lovely ride by Parmar – he didn’t panic when she was tardy away and he was really vigorous on her at the business end of the race. We don’t think Mitre Peak is the full deal yet, because she still has quite a bit of furnishing to go. So for her to win a couple of races, as she’s done this time in, is very satisfying. It was reported to us that her work had been good leading up to the race, we couldn’t fault her, but there were a couple more favoured in betting that appeared quite hard to beat. We were confident that she was going to run well, but not completely convinced that she was going to beat the others. But in the end she did – so a great training effort by Mark and Sam, ably assisted at Riccaron by Hunter and Ashley”
From the last crop of world renowned sire More Than Ready (Southern Halo), with over 2000 winners, Mitre Peak is from Liten Prinsessa, by another worldwide acclaimed sire Bernardini (A. P. Indy).
Liten Prinsessa, winner of four races to 1400 metres in Australia, is a sister to Karaka Million 2YO (Restricted Listed, 1200m) winner and Champion Two-Year-Old Ruud Awakening, now the dam of Group Three winner Rise Of The Masses (Russian Revolution).
Mitre Peak was purchased for A$60,000 by David Ellis CNZM/Fortuna Racing at Inglis 2022 Classic Yearling Sale in Sydney.
Mitre Peak is raced by the Fortuna Mitre Peak Syndicate, an Ownership Group consisting of 53 individuals, mostly from NZ but with one syndicate Member from Australia
She was strapped by Naomi Warrender
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More Bonus Race announcements – two different Series with $1m in Total Bonuses
Two Bonus Series Add to Excitement of New Champions Day
New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) and Entain have today announced the qualifying races in the two Bonus Series that will culminate on the new Champions Day at Ellerslie on Saturday 8 March.
As part of the new Summer Carnival, a revamped Champion Middle Distance Series and a new Champion Sprint Series will be run for a total of $1 million in bonuses, with the final race in each Series to be run on Champions Day, also home to the $3.5 million NZB Kiwi.
Points will be allocated to the first four placegetters of each race in the respective Series, with a bonus pool of $500,000 being shared amongst the owners of the three highest point scoring horses at the conclusion of each Series. The top three points earners of each Series will receive $300,000 for first, $150,000 for second and $50,000 for third (with the trainer of the first-place getter receiving 10% of the bonus won).
“Off the back of the success of this Summer’s Middle Distance Series, the two Champion Series include a greater number of races, which are spread over a longer period. This is designed to create more opportunities for participants to compete for the prize pool, whilst also creating interest and excitement in the two Series,” NZTR COO Darin Balcombe said.
“We will be presenting cheques to the winners and placegetters of each Series on an already sensational Champions Day. Total prize money on offer will now exceed $10 million, making this a truly world class racing event.”
The Champion Sprint Series will include four Australian races, with the aim of attracting Australian horses to compete in New Zealand’s major sprint races over the Summer.
There will also be an additional incentive for top-line sprinters to tackle the Series, with the winner having first rights at representing Trackside Media in The Quokka, the A$5 million slot race in Perth next April.
“The trans-Tasman dimension that has been added through the four Australian qualifying races in the Sprint Series as well as the offer of the Trackside slot in The Quokka in Perth provides a genuine road map all through the spring and summer for star Kiwi and Australian sprinters,” Entain Australia and New Zealand Deputy CEO Lachlan Fitt said.
“These two new elements will increase engagement and wagering activity in both countries on all these Sprint Series races. The addition of The Quokka entry also provides a rare opportunity for slot race glory, with six weeks between Champions Day and The Quokka giving connections time to set their sights squarely towards a sprinting grand final at Ascot Racecourse in Perth, on April 19 next year.
The qualifying races and allocation of points for each Series are set out below:
Champion Middle Distance Series – Qualifying Races
G1 Arrowfield Stud Plate – 28 September 2024
G1 Livamol Classic – 12 October 2024
G3 Balmerino Stakes – 5 November 2024
G3 TAB Mile – 13 November 2024
G1 TAB Classic – 7 December 2024
G1 Zabeel Classic – 26 December 2024
G2 Rich Hill Mile – 1 January 2025
G1 Thorndon Mile – 11 January 2025
Aotearoa Classic – 25 January 2025
G1 Herbie Dyke Stakes – 8 February 2025
G1 Otaki WFA Classic – 22 February 2025
G1 Bonecrusher NZ Stakes – 8 March 2025
Champion Sprint Series – Qualifying Races
G3 Counties Bowl – 30 November 2024
G1 Winterbottom Stakes (Perth) – 30 November 2024
G3 George Moore Stakes (Brisbane) – 30 November 2024
Listed Hazlett Stakes – 26 December 2024
Listed Christmas Stakes (Melbourne) – 26 December 2024
Listed Canterbury Sprint (Sydney) – 1 January 2025
G3 Concorde Handicap – 1 January 2025
G1 Telegraph – 11 January 2025
G1 Railway Stakes – 25 January 2025
G1 BCD Sprint – 8 February 2025
G3 Kings Plate – 8 March 2025
Champion Middle Distance Series – Points Allocation
Champion Sprint Series – Points Allocation
To be eligible to win or place in a Series, a horse must compete in at least one Group 1 race in the relevant Series. If two or more horses finish with the same number of points in a Series, the relevant bonus amount will be shared amongst the owners of those horses.
Last week it has to be said the track at Ruakaka dried out exceptionally well but it impeded our two to follow, Turn The Ace, who wasn’t a happy chappy while Malfy Rosa was off stride at the 200m and she wasn’t far away and deserves one more chance.
Meanwhile at Trentham we finished first and third in the chase and our late scratching two weeks ago Tavis Court bounced back with a 14 to one victory. Hopefully you stuck with him.
For the record my first picks – on the 10 races at Trentham on the email service – all ran first, second or third bar one!
We have 4 meetings on Saturday and Sunday to look at for a busy weekend.
He’s a double acceptor but I’ll be have a little something on him whichever race he starts in. His run last time at Te Rapa was a strong indicator that he’s ready to take over where he left off last winter with a return to form. The tougher the track the happier he is.
He’s a 16 to one chance as I write this.
I know the talented Casino Princess is engaged but the weight scale tilts firmly in Martell’s favour.
He won the r75 over 1200m at Tauranga last start under 59kgs.
On Saturday he carries 51kgs while Casino Princess must lump 60kgs.
Taking the quinella isn’t silly as insurance but I’ll be punting Martell on the nose.
This local mare has won three races in her last 5 starts and she’s a “black typer” in waiting.
Craig Grylls is back on board and he’s shooting for three with her from three rides.
She dominated proceedings at Riccarton last time and has had a chance to freshen.
From all accounts she galloped well on Tuesday and is ready to add another to her fine record.
Good punting!
My email tipping service is available for a sign on for 3 months beginning August 1 until October 31 for $240 ( gst inclusive). You’ll receive top tips for every NZ gallops meeting as well as the regular best and value bet for each meeting before 9am. If you are keen drop me a line dcoppins@xtra.co.nz and I’ll bonus you the rest of this month starting immediately.
Des
