Intention (NZ) Wows in Wakefield

Intention (NZ) (Bivouac) went into Saturday’s $175,000 Group Two Happy Hire Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m) under the radar, but she emphatically changed that with an upset victory that stamped her as a filly to follow.

An exciting new stakes winner for up-and-coming syndicators In To Win, Intention was offered by breeders Wentwood Grange in Book 1 of Karaka 2024 and was bought for $65,000. Her two-race career has now produced $102,625 in stakes.

Intention made her debut at Otaki late last month, where she was slow to leave the starting gates and then bucked in the first 50 metres of the race. Her connections were unfazed and pressed on for a shot at Group Two gold on Saturday, where she started as the outsider of the five-horse field but scored an outstanding win.

Jockey Tina Comignaghi settled in fourth place as the unbeaten favourites Cool Aza Rene (Cool Aza Beel) and Marokopa Falls (Hellbent) set the pace up to the home turn.

The race changed complexion at the top of the straight as Landlock (Merchant Navy) kicked through along the inside and hit the lead, but then Comignaghi went to work on Invention. She accelerated stylishly and dashed up alongside Landlock, gradually getting the better of that rival and winning by half a length.

“I thought she might be a bit green after that debut run, but she was a real professional today,” Comignaghi said. “She finished it off very strongly from off the pace. She’s a lovely filly and takes everything in her stride, so I think she’ll only improve.”

Intention is trained by Mike Breslin, who has always believed the filly had plenty of potential.

“I’ve always thought a lot of her, and I decided to line her up on debut without a trial,” he said. “Things didn’t work out well for her that day, but she’s just done so well since then. She’s improved hugely. Her trackwork has been fantastic.

“I wouldn’t have run her in a race like this if I thought she was out of her grade. I was expecting a big run, and we got it.

“It’s great for Tineke and In To Win. We didn’t buy her for very much at the sales, and a filly like her is really important for Tineke and her syndication business.”

Intention became the first stakes winner for multiple Group One-winning Godolphin stallion Bivouac, whose oldest progeny are two-year-olds this season. Bivouac now heads the New Zealand first-season sire standings and has eight yearlings catalogued for Book 1 of Karaka 2025.

Vendor	Wentwood Grange
Purchaser	M Breslin/InToWin Syndication (Manawatu-Whanganui)
Breeding	Bivouac – Beela Hudood
Sale	Lot 603, Karaka 2024 Book 1, $65,000
Bred by	Llanhennock Trust