Asterix (NZ) Takes Out the NZB Beauford

NZB was a proud sponsor of Saturday’s A$300,000 The NZB Beauford (2300m) at Newcastle, and the race had a fitting result with Group One-winning Karaka graduate Asterix (NZ) (Tavistock) coming out on top.

Asterix was a $450,000 purchase by Bruce Perry Bloodstock from Curraghmore’s draft at the 2020 Ready to Run Sale. He has now had 23 starts for five wins, a placing and A$923,671 in prize-money.

Originally trained at Matamata by Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott, Asterix won four races in New Zealand including the Group One New Zealand Derby (2400m) in 2022 and the Group Two Avondale Cup (2400m) two years later.

Now in the care of champion expat Kiwi trainer Chris Waller, Asterix had shown promising signs this season including an eye-catching finish for fifth in the A$500,000 St Leger (2600m) at Randwick in his previous start on October 18.

Asterix put everything together at Newcastle on Saturday, outstaying his opposition and winning by just over a length for jockey Jason Collett.

“I thought his run was great the other day in the St Leger,” Collett said. “It was just a slow-run race. He led the start before that and it didn’t work one bit, so last start we tried to make sure he did things right, which he did, and he found the line great.

“His trial was good leading into this and when I had the gate today, I was able to use it and put him in a close enough spot which gave us our chance.

“He’s won a New Zealand Derby. He’s got the credentials there and this will no doubt build confidence.”

Waller was represented at Newcastle by Zane Jones.

“He was a good horse in New Zealand before coming to Australia,” he said. “We never lost faith in the horse, it was just a matter of turning up, getting things to go his way and today it did.”