Back-to-Back Group Ones for Coventina Bay (NZ)

Taranaki mare Coventina Bay (NZ) (Shamexpress) has been a summer standout among New Zealand’s weight-for-age ranks, completing a super-impressive Group One double in Sunday’s $240,000 Group One Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie.

The Robbie Patterson-trained six-year-old scored in last month’s Group One Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa in her previous start, and she has now won a total of 11 races from 22 career appearances. Offered at the 2017 Select Sale with a reserve of only $20,000, she has earned $692,180 in prize-money.

For most of Coventina Bay’s career, she has been a quality sprinter-miler, winning the Group Two Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m), Group Three J Swap Sprint (1400m) and Group Three Cuddle Stakes (1600m), along with placings in the Group One New Zealand Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) and Group One Thorndon Mile (1600m).

But after Sunday’s superb performance at Ellerslie, Coventina Bay now boasts a flawless record of two 2000-metre starts for two Group One weight-for-age triumphs.

Ridden by her regular partner Craig Grylls, Coventina Bay took up a slightly handier position than normal on Sunday, settling in fifth along the rail. Despite front-runner The Mitigator (Master Of Design) slowing the tempo noticeably down the back straight before cranking things up again from the 800-metre mark, Coventina Bay found a perfect rhythm and travelled smoothly throughout the race.

Grylls angled off the rail coming up to the home turn and found a gap between The Mitigator and Tiptronic (NZ) (O’Reilly), and Coventina Bay did the rest. She pinned her ears back and charged through, lodging her bid for the lead while the consistent Vernanme (NZ) (O’Reilly) chimed in out wide.

It looked for a few strides like Vernanme may have had the upper hand, but Coventina Bay found a little more and kicked away to score by a length and a half.

“That was brilliant,” Grylls said. “We got the perfect run. At the 1000-metre mark I was wondering how we were going to get off the fence, but Vernanme popped off at the 600 and I was able to get a run through.

“The key to her is that she has such a turn of foot and she just outsprints them. She switches off in the run, and then when you ask her to go, she just wants to do it. It’s a big thrill, and to win two Group Ones on a mare is pretty special.”

It was a special moment too for Patterson, who admits his stable star can be something of a handful.

“She’s a cantankerous little sod and gives me a workout every time, but she’s worth it,” he said. “Her record speaks for itself. I’d be happy to put up with her all my life. This is unbelievable, to tell you the truth.

“Craig did it beautifully. He knew what he had underneath him, and what a little champ she is. This is my first win at Ellerslie, so to get a win here in a Group One is amazing. I am very proud.”

Third-placed The Chosen One (NZ) (Savabeel) is also a Karaka graduate, offered with a reserve of $150,000 at the 2017 Premier Sale. His 39-start career has featured seven wins, nine placings and more than $2.4 million in stakes.

Vendor	Windsor Park Stud
Breeding	Shamexpress – Coventina
Sale	Lot 628, 2017 Select Sale, Psd (Res $20,000)
Bred by	EVB Ltd