No More Tears (NZ) Heads Karaka Trifecta in Mr Tiz Trophy

Classy filly No More Tears (NZ) (Darci Brahma) was too good for her rivals in Saturday’s Group 3 Stella Artois Mr Tiz Trophy at Ellerslie, leading in a trifecta of Karaka graduates in the three-year-old sprint.

Previously the winner of the Listed Hamilton Vets Equine Stakes and the Listed Soliloquy Stakes, No More Tears was the favourite for Saturday’s race after an unlucky fourth in the Karaka 3YO Mile in her most recent appearance in late January.

The talented filly didn’t disappoint, dashing to the lead in the straight and scoring an easy win by three-quarters of a length from the fast-finishing Volks Lightning (NZ) (Volksraad) and Windborne (NZ) (Darci Brahma).

“She’s a classy filly,” trainer Stephen Marsh said. “I think freshening her up and resuming over 1200 metres suited her today. She’s pretty adaptable and has a fair bit of ability.

“She got a perfect run today, Michael rode her a treat and she won it pretty well.

“Ideally we’d like to take her to Australia now. There’s a Group Two sprint worth A$500,000 on April 9 (Arrowfield 3YO Sprint), and then there’s a suitable race for her every fortnight.”

No More Tears has had eight starts for four wins and $126,000 in stakes.

A daughter of the Minardi mare Ocean Of Tears, No More Tears was bred by David Wallace and was offered by Ardsley Stud at the 2014 Select Sale at Karaka. She was purchased for $75,000 by Go Racing, who race her under the name Go Racing Don’t Cry Syndicate.

Runner-up Volks Lightning is also a Karaka graduate. The daughter of the Stravinsky mare Next Century was offered by Windsor Park Stud at the Ready to Run Sale, where she was purchased by Vermair Racing for $70,000.

Third placegetter Windborne completed a trifecta for the Karaka graduates. She is out of the Van Nistelrooy mare Sweet Dreams Baby, making her a full-sister to last season’s Group 1 NZB 1000 Guineas runner-up Darci’s Dream (NZ). Windborne was offered by Goodwood Stud at the Select Sale and was purchased by Fortuna Syndications for $100,000.

The win by No More Tears was the second Mr Tiz Trophy victory in a row for prominent syndicators Go Racing, who were among the leading buyers at this year’s Premier Sale with eight yearlings bought for a total of $1.15 million. Their win in the 2015 Mr Tiz Trophy came with Passing Shot (NZ) (Swiss Ace), who was bought out of the Select Sale for $50,000.

Go Racing also went close to winning Saturday’s main event, the Group 1 New Zealand Derby, with fellow Karaka graduate What’s The Story (NZ) (Savabeel). The colt’s flying finish missed by only a short head in the $750,000 classic won by Rangipo (Stryker).