Deserved Black-Type Win for Apostrophe (NZ)

With the broodmare paddock looming large on her horizon, quality Karaka graduate Apostrophe (NZ) (Tavistock) significantly enhanced her value with a first black-type win in Saturday’s $120,000 Group Three Martin Collins New Zealand Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes (2100m) at Trentham.

Cambridge trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood paid just $60,000 to buy Apostrophe from Cambridge Stud’s Book 1 draft at Karaka 2019. Her 20-race career has now produced six wins, five placings and $228,560 in stakes – almost four times her purchase price.

Until Saturday, Apostrophe’s attempts at black-type level had been so close, but so far away. She finished second in the Group Three Anniversary Handicap (1600m) in January, beaten by a head, then was edged out by a neck when second in last month’s Group Three Cuddle Stakes (1600m).

Saturday was Apostrophe’s day. She stretched out beyond 1600 metres for the first time and relished those extra 500 metres, producing a gear change in the straight that none of her rivals could match. She burst to the lead and went clear, winning by two and a half lengths.

“We were a little bit worried about it being a slowly run race, but with only nine runners you’re never really going to get too far off them,” Wellwood said.

“A bit of pressure came on at the turn so she could come up behind them, and when she got a gap, she was electric.

“She has been screaming out to go over 2000 metres her whole life, but we’ve never been able to get her there. Now that we have, she was very good.

“There may be one more race for her at Te Rapa after this – the Travis Stakes (Group Two, 2000m) – but she is probably destined for the broodmare paddock at the end of this preparation.”

Apostrophe completed a notable double for Cambridge Stud and their former stallion Tavistock (NZ). Saturday’s Group Three Higgins Concrete Manawatu Classic (2100m) was won by Outovstock (NZ) (Tavistock), who was bred and sold by Cambridge.