Back-to-back Gold Trails for Richardson and Norvall

Two years in a row but at two different venues, Graham Richardson and Rogan Norvall have staked an early claim in the NZB Filly of the Year Series with a super-impressive victory in the Group Three Gold Trail Stakes (1200m).

The Matamata trainers won the Gold Trail last year with eventual NZB Filly of the Year runner-up Lollapalooza (NZ) (El Roca). That race was run at Ellerslie while Hastings was closed for track renovations.

Hastings made a superb return to the New Zealand racing spotlight on Saturday, and Richardson and Norvall ventured to Hawke’s Bay and successfully defended their title in the HBPB Thoroughbred Breeders-sponsored Gold Trail with Hawea (Hellbent) producing a brilliant performance.

Co-bred by NZB's John Cameron, Hawea was purchased by Brendon McCullum and Richardson Racing for $300,000 from Wentwood Grange’s Book 1 draft at Karaka 2025, and Cameron stayed in the ownership. The daughter of Hellbent has now had five starts for two wins, a placing and $171,200 in stakes, with the promise of much more to come.

Hawea scored a stunning last-to-first victory in the Listed Chittick Family Fillies’ Classic (1100m) at Taupo on August 16, and she impressively won a trial in between times at Te Rapa on September 13.

She came up against a far more formidable field on Saturday, and had to overcome a taxing three-wide run.

Despite that energy-sapping trip, Hawea had plenty to offer when rider Wiremu Pinn asked her for an effort at the top of the straight. She quickened superbly to take command, then withstood the late finishes of Liguria (NZ) (Snitzel) and Dashing Dixie (NZ) (Alabama Express) to win by three-quarters of a length.

“I told Richie (Richardson) that I would ride her like the best horse today, but I didn’t mean that bad,” Pinn said. “It was a shocker.

“But she is a lovely filly and has shown how much ability she has. She can just switch off in her races, and her turn of foot is electric. I probably should have ridden her cold, but she is so versatile. Put a line through the ride, but not the horse.”

Richardson believes Hawea still has further improvement in store as she builds towards the Group One New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) in Christchurch in November.

“That was just such an impressive performance,” he said. “Amazing. I’m really chuffed for Brendon (McCullum) and all the owners.

“She’s still going to improve a lot on this, she’s not even right in the coat yet, so it’s very exciting. She may line up in the Soliloquy Stakes next before heading to Christchurch for the 1000 Guineas.”

Hawea earned 6 points in the NZB Filly of the Year Series and slots straight into an equal lead alongside Pounce (NZ) (Almanzor). Liguria picked up 3 points to move into equal third place, while Dashing Dixie’s 1.5 points put her in equal fifth spot.

The next leg of the NZB Filly of the Year Series is the $175,000 Group Two Windsor Park Stud Soliloquy Stakes (1400m), which will be run at Ellerslie on October 17.

Vendor	Wentwood Grange
Purchaser	Brendon McCullum & Richardson Racing (Waikato)
Breeding	Hellbent – Idlewild
Sale	Lot 2, Karaka 2025 Book 1, $300,000
Breeder	Mr J Cameron, Wcy Fan, MH & E Oram, D Zigal
Owner	K Gibbons, J Cameron, D Zigal, R Goddard, B McCullum ONZM, S Donovan, B McLaughlin, B Worth, J Worth, L & G Lynch, G & F Pickett