Norzita Takes Second G1 in Vinery Stud Stakes
8 April 2013
Kiwi bred filly Norzita (NZ) made it266 Group 1 wins for her trainer Bart Cummings and five Australian Group 1 victories in six weeks for New Zealand bred three-year-olds when taking Saturday’s A$400,000 Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill.
Kiwi bred three-year-olds have had a huge last five weeks in Australia with It’s a Dundeel (NZ) winning the first two legs of the three-year-old triple crown, Ferlax (NZ) winning the Australian Guineas and Shamexpress (NZ) beating the older horses in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap.
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Dual Group 1 winner Norzita (NZ) will now head |
Coming into Saturday’s race with the Group 1 Flight Stakes already to her name, Norzita (Thorn Park x Visique) was heavily backed to win the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes after putting in a huge run only to be narrowly beaten against the older horses in the Group 1 Coolmore Classic two weeks ago.
The Vinery Stakes was the three-year-old’s first trip over 2000 metres and she was simply superb under a terrific ride from jockey Hugh Bowman, cruising around the turn and tackling arch rival Longport, who she beat in the Flight Stakes, before powering away to win by half-a-length.
Bart Cummings’s grandson and foreman James Cummings confirmed after the race that the daughter of Thorn Park will contest the Group 1 Doncaster Mile in two weeks instead of pressing on to the Group 1 Australian Oaks.
Norzita will only be asked to carry 52 kilograms in the Doncaster Mile and sets up an exciting clash with star three-year-old Pierro who will also contest the race having won Saturday’s Group 1 George Ryder Stakes. The colt had to fight hard to beat the tough kiwi King Mufhasa (NZ) who is now heading for the Group 1 Champions Mile in Hong Kong.
Saturday’s Group 1 NZ Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes winner Xanadu (NZ) may also be heading to the Doncaster Mile with connections to decide whether to target the race or the Group 2 Emancipation Stakes on 27 April.
Fellow kiwi bred Habibi (NZ) (Ekraar) put in a solid performance behind Norzita in the Vinery Stud Stakes finishing third in a good lead up for her main target which will either be this weekend’s Australian Derby or the Oaks in two weeks.
Bred by Marc and Sarah Devcich, Norzita was purchased by Duncan Ramage’s DGR Thoroughbred Services from Windsor Park Stud at the 2011 Karaka Premier Sale for $200,000.
Raced by Dato Tan Chin Nam – who also raced Karaka graduate So You Think – in conjunction with Westcode Pty Ltd, Saturday’s win was Norzita’s fourth from ten starts, her second at Group 1 level, and has taken her stakes earnings to A$765,900.