Decorah Decorates her Pedigree with Black
13 April 2015
Pins mare Decorah (NZ) (Pins) earned a deserved stakes victory win on Saturday in the Group 3 $70,000 Swap Stockfoods Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes (2000m) at Awapuni.
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Decorah (NZ) triumphs in the Group 3 Swap Stockfoods Manawatu Breeders' Stakes. |
This is Decorah’s first stakes win from her 29 starts for trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman. The five-year-old mare has placed in seven other races, two at stakes level, including running second in the Group 3 Trentham Stakes at the start of the year.
“It was an important win for her,” commented Forsman. “We were wrapped as it was her first stakes win in a Group 3 race. She has been so close in Group races before but for her to actually win one is very important for her pedigree.”
Commencing the 2000m race from barrier 4 with Opie Bosson on board, Decorah went forward to settle in fourth position behind Emerald Queen (NZ) (O’Reilly), who raced in third position, one off the rail. Ahead of the 1000m mark Decorah steadily made ground to overtake Emerald Queen to race two-and-quarter lengths off the pace-maker Mischievous Mis (NZ) (Perfectly Ready).
Sweeping up on the inside as the field turned for home, Decorah took the lead and was initially challenged by Flying Orca (NZ) (Perfectly Ready) on the inside and joined by Emerald Queen on the outside. Decorah finished the best to win by one-and-a-quarter-lengths ahead of Emerald Queen and Flying Orca, who finished in second and third place respectively.
“All going well she will head to the Travis Stakes at Te Rapa, Saturday week. It will be a big step up in class but she is a Group 3 winner now so we have to look at a Group 2,” added Forsman.
Winning six races across her racing career has earned the daughter of Pins $154,435 in prizemoney for owners MMS & S Allan, Dr AT & Mrs CM Jackson, Mrs B Larsen & WA Larsen CNZM.
The five-year-old mare was offered at the 2011 Karaka Premier Sale by Seaton Park Ltd.
Bred by co-owners AT & Mrs CM Jackson, Decorah is out of stakes placing mare Nordic Dancer (Generous), who was placed in the Listed Cornwall Handicap. Granddam Danish Habit (Danehill) is a half-sister to Rough Habit (Roughcast), the winner of 11 Group 1 races.