Kiwi First Four in G3 Rough Habit Plate

A New Zealand-bred first four was led home by the flying Amexed (NZ) (Pentire) who rewarded his trainer’s confidence by dashing to victory in the Group 3 A$126,100 Mitty’s Rough Habit Plate (2000m) on Saturday.

Amexed (NZ) successful in the Group 3 Mitty’s Rough Habit Plate.

The race named after the great kiwi galloper Rough Habit was dominated by kiwi horses, with Karaka graduate Telepathic (NZ) (Mossman) finishing second, Glorious Lad (NZ) (Falkirk) in third and Vilanova (NZ) (Commands) filling fourth position.

Bought by Cameron Cooke Bloodstock for NZ$210,000 at the 2012 Karaka Premier Sale from Hallmark Stud, the lightly tried Amexed entered the race with only one win from six starts in his career, that win coming at his last start at the Sunshine Coast for trainer Tony Gollan.

 “We were actually confident,” commented Gollan. “He is a lightly race three-year-old but we were very confident he could stay. He was better at the 2000m, we gave him a soft kill at the Sunshine Coast to get his confidence up the other day and we were going into the race full of confidence he could run the 2000m out.

“We were going to find out if he was going to handle the rise in class by putting him in there. He has always shown us plenty of ability and it was good to see him fulfil that yesterday. He was very strong through the line and I think 2000m is as short as he wants it really. He will only enjoy getting out to the 2200m and the 2400m of the Derby.”

The Group 1 Queensland Derby is the main aim for Amexed, a plan that was set by his trainer from the moment he saw him as a yearling in New Zealand.

“He will run in the Grand Prix Stakes in a fortnight and that will top him off nicely for the Derby. We are only a month away from the Derby and we pretty much have him where we want him, he is only third up with nice improvement in him, it is a pretty exciting time.

“Myself and Cameron Cooke both spotted him on the NZTM Trainers’ Tour first, and then we went back to buy him at the Sale. He was an impressive yearling and he has always had a great action. We had to spend a bit more than we wanted to but as they say, take home the one you love and that is what we have done.

“We left in New Zealand for 12 months and gave him plenty of time to mature. We then brought him over here and raced him as a three-year-old and the idea was always to have him running in the Queensland Derby. That is always the dream when you go over there to buy them and at this stage we are only four weeks away from getting him there.”

The second win by Amexed has taken his earnings to A$105,500 for his owners River Junction Racing, First Stayer, Mr B A Siemsen, Mr T Rider, Mr N G Galligan, Mr G J Sullivan, Mr K J Laverty & Mr M J Kelly.

Bred by Tony Rider, Amexed is out of Group 3 placed mare Danex (Danasinga), the dam of Group 3 three-year-old placegetter Digital Fortress (Savabeel). Danex finished fourth in the Group 1 NZ Oaks and Digital Fortress finished fourth in the Group 1 Victoria Derby, indicating a step up to the Derby trip won’t be a problem for Amexed.

Amexed’s victory was one of three Group wins by Karaka graduates at Doomben with Pretty Pins (NZ) (Pins)triumphant in the Group 3 Chairman’s Handicap and sprinter Famous Seamus (NZ) (Elusive City) successful in the Group 1 BTC Cup.

Rich Hill Stud sire Pentire has one weanling in NZB’s National Weanling Sale tomorrow (12 May) at Karaka.