Kiwi Mare Loving Melbourne

Kiwi mare Forever Loved (NZ) (High Chaparral) added another chapter to one of New Zealand’s most successful families with a convincing victory in the Group 2 A$200,000 Blazer Stakes (1400m) at Flemington.

Forever Loved (NZ) triumphant in the Group 2 Blazer Stakes.

A daughter of Group 1 runner-up Diamond Like (Danehill), Forever Loved is a descendent of blue hen mare Eight Carat (Pieces of Eight), a family responsible for numerous Group 1 winners including champion galloper Octagonal (Zabeel).

Trained by Gai Waterhouse, Forever Loved entered the race having run last at her previous start but never having a clear run to the line. Jockey Vald Duric found a cosy position mid-field and was in a prime spot to challenge entering the straight.

Travelling the best at the 300m mark, Forever Loved ambled up to the lead and dashed away from the field to win by 1.3 lengths from Enquare (Stratum) with Group 1 winner May’s Dream (New Approach) finishing third.

“We have always thought she would be better over more ground,” commented Waterhouse’s Stable Racing Manager Emma Pearce. “This is a fabulous result for everyone concerned - Gai, the owners and the rider.”

“We have always thought she had a good Group 1 in her and that's the way I'm sure Gai will head with her.”

Saturday’s win was Forever Loved’s third win from eleven starts for owners Greg & Donna Kolivos, earning them A$309,480. The four-year-old mare was Group 1 placed last season in the Vinery Stud Stakes behind Lucia Valentina (NZ) (Savabeel) who captured the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes one race earlier at Flemington.

Bred by Sir Patrick & Lady Justine Hogan, Forever Loved is a half-sister to Group 3 winner Zephyron (Zabeel), Group 1 placegetter Miss Zenalla (Zabeel) and the stakes placed Ardeche (Dehere). Her second dam is Group 1 winner Tristalove (Sir Tristram) and her third dam is Group 1 winner Diamond Lover (Sticks and Stones).

Gai Waterhouse and James Harron purchased Forever Loved for NZ$650,000 from the 2012 Karaka Premier Sale from Cambridge Stud.

Forever Loved’s victory was one of three Group 2 wins for Karaka graduate’s on the weekend along with four Group 1 wins by graduates across three countries.