Khando (NZ) Strikes Mega Maiden Bonus at Te Aroha

Patience was rewarded at Te Aroha on Wednesday when talented staying mare Khando (NZ) (Mongolian Khan) broke through for a maiden victory that carried extra significance thanks to the NZB Mega Maiden Series.

Khando earned a $14,375 first-place prize in the $25,000 NZB Mega Maiden Series (2200m), but she also struck an additional Mega Maiden bonus of $25,000. Her owners receive $20,000 of that amount, with $5,000 going to trainer Pam Gerard.

Paul Moroney Bloodstock and Ballymore Stables paid $35,000 to buy Khando from Kilgravin Lodge’s draft in Book 2 of Karaka 2022. The five-year-old mare has now had 15 starts for a win, three placings and $26,525 in stakes – an amount that virtually doubles when the NZB Mega Maiden bonus is factored in.

Khando had shown plenty of promise throughout this spring preparation, heading into Wednesday’s race on the back of close placings at Taupo on September 17, Taupo again on October 10 and Avondale on November 6.

She went one better on Wednesday, settling in third for jockey Hayley Hassman before surging into contention at the top of the home straight. Khando was pushed hard by fellow Mega Maiden-eligible mare Honor Mission (NZ) (Tarzino), but kept finding and kept lifting and won by a head.

“This is special for her owners, who have been really patient,” Gerard said. “It just shows that good things can come if you wait long enough.

“She comes from a family that always takes a bit of time to mature. There have been times when we nearly pulled the pin, but I always thought she had something there. I was lucky the owners were patient and wanted to carry on with her.

“She had a tendency to button off between the 800 and the 600 metres, but Hayley and George Rooke have ironed that out in this campaign and got her going nicely. She’s really travelling into her races now and getting the job done. Hopefully she can go on and do a bit more for her owners.”

The NZB Mega Maiden Series is an exciting initiative by NZB and New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing, generously supported by Entain. It sees $1m in bonuses up for grabs across 40 non-Saturday maiden races throughout New Zealand each season.

Multiple bonuses were struck across the northern, central and southern regions this, and last season, with prominent owner and racing industry supporter Terry Lines taking out two of the bonuses with his runners Suavetta (NZ) (Almanzor) at Pukekohe Park for trainers Shaun and Emma Clotworthy, and seven days later, Reprobate (NZ) (Ace High) at Gore for trainer Kelvin Tyler.

The next race in the Mega Maiden Series is the $25,000 NZB Mega Maiden Series (1600m) at Tauherenikau on December 10.

Vendor	Kilgravin Lodge
Purchaser	Paul Moroney Bloodstock/Ballymore Stables (Waikato)
Breeding	Mongolian Khan – Evens
Sale	Lot 817, Karaka 2022 Book 2, $35,000
Breeder	E P Lowry
Owner	Ballymore Racing NZ Ltd, Savvy Racing Magpies Syndicate (Mgr: Keith McDonald), M & W Bloomfield, R Cusin, J Gray, A Hayne, D Lean, J Hayne, A Mathieson, Mrs J & R Turner