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47.
S.A. Derby Earns Pentire His First Stakes Winner
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12/05/2002 |
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There was a good deal of soul searching going on among New Zealand breeders after a disappointing 2002 National Yearling Sale. For all their perceived shortcomings what cannot be denied is that when it comes to the Classics and Cups races in Australia, New Zealand breds still reign supreme.
PENTIRE - his first stakes winner came at the highest level The result of today’s $300,000, Group One South Australia Derby followed a similar pattern set by the winners this season of the WATC Derby (Honor Lap), AJC Derby (Don Eduardo) and VRC Derby (Amalfi). All were bred in New Zealand. Consider also that it was a N.Z. bred trifecta in the Rosehill Guineas (G1), won by Carnegie Express and the AJC Derby, won by Don Eduardo, then it will come as no surprise to see two New Zealand bred greys battle out a thrilling S.A Derby (G1) at Morphetville.
At the finishing post the ultra-game Pantani nosed out the John Hawkes trained Silver Baron (Defensive Play) with 4-1/2 lengths to 100-1 shot Lester Thunderwing (Last Tycoon) in third. Previously the winner of only one of his 14 starts Pantani started at 30/1 despite finishing an excellent second to Grey Song in the St. Leger (2800m) at Flemington on Anzac Day.
It was a joyous occasion for Victorian trainer Robbie Laing who has waited almost 20 years for his second Group One victory following the win of Perfect Bliss in the 1983 Thousand Guineas.
Laing paid $NZ52,500 for Pantani at the NZ Yearling Sales. As the future S.A. Derby winner left the sales arena the following lot into the ring went on to create history as the highest price yearling ever sold in the southern hemisphere. At a cost of NZ3.6 million the colt subsequently named Don Eduardo has his own Derby trophy on display.
"That was almost Pantani's claim to fame before today," Laing said. "It's very ironic, how, out of all the sale, that one page has produced two Derby winners."
Pantani’s dam, Dewamar (Marscay-Dewan Diddy by Dewan) was sold at the 2000 Australian Easter Broodmare Sale for $100,000, carrying a full sibling to Pantani. She is looking to be an inspired choice. The winner of 4 races in Sydney for earnings of over $118,000, Dewamar is a daughter of the leading broodmare sire Marscay out of the imported Dewan mare Dewan Diddy a winner of 5 races and a half-sister to multiple Grade One winner and top-class Australian based stallion Zoffany, winner of 15 races and $1,222,846.
Pantani is the second foal of Dewamar. Bevan Lamming purchased Dewamar’s first foal, a colt by Vettori at the 1999 N.Z. Premier Sale for $45,000. Racing as St Basil he has won 7 of his 14 starts in Queensland for earnings of over $70,000.
Dewamar has foaled a full sister to the Derby winner for her new owners and had a colt by Jade Robbery last year before visiting Anabaa.
Pantani becomes the first stakes winner for his sire Pentire. A son of Pentire winning a Derby seems poetic justice after David Hall’s admirably consistent Pentastic spent the best part of the season chasing home Don Eduardo, Carnegie Express and Amalfi in the eastern states classics.
Pentire (Be My Guest-Gull Nook by Mill Reef) was himself a fabulous racehorse of the highest class. His dazzling turn of foot earned wins in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) at Ascot and the Guiness Champion Stakes (G1) at Leopardstown. He almost made it duel wins in the King George when beaten neck by the undefeated Lammtarra.
Pentire’s sire Be My Guest (Northern Dancer) was Champion UK Sire in 1982 and leading UK first crop sire. His 59 stakes winners include Assert, French 3YO Champion, winner of Prix du Jockey Club-G1, Irish Derby-G1, Benson & Hedges Gold Cup (G1); Go And Go, 6 wins, $727,753, Champion 3YO Colt in Ireland; Belmont S (G1).
Gull Nook, Pentire’s dam, won 2 races including the Ribblesdale Stakes (G2). She is a three-quarter sister to English Derby (G1) winner Shirley Heights, honoured as the Horse of the Year in UK.
Pentire entered stud in Japan and in New Zealand in 1997. His oldest crop of three-year olds include the Japanese stakes-placed Up And Comer and Meiner Despot while the stakes-placed winners Mustaagel and Pentastic have, along with Pantani, been flying the flag for Pentire in Australasia.
Pentire stands at the beautifully appointed Rich Hill Stud in the heart of New Zealand’s famed Waikato region. The former champion racehorse looks certain to feature in the pedigrees of Classic and Cups contenders over the next decade.
By: Mark Smith - Saturday, 11 May 2002
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