Pendragon (NZ) Steps Up to the Big Time in Guineas

Boxing Day’s $225,000 Group Two Shaw’s Wire Ropes Auckland Guineas (1400m) at Pukekohe marked the coming of age of Pendragon (NZ) (U S Navy Flag), who was bought from Karaka 2022 and has a half-brother catalogued for Karaka 2024.

The Guineas was the third win of a six-start career for Pendragon, who was a $110,000 purchase by Paul Moroney Bloodstock and Ballymore Stables from Valachi Downs’ Book 2 draft at Karaka 2022. The rapidly improving three-year-old has now earned $182,895 in prize-money.

Pendragon has always been held in high regard by Matamata trainers Mike Moroney and Pam Gerard, but the first three races of his career produced two fourths and a 10th. He began to turn the corner with an emphatic front-running maiden win at Te Aroha on November 29, then delivered a repeat performance in a strong three-year-old race at Te Rapa two weeks later.

The Guineas on Boxing Day was Pendragon’s first appearance at black-type level, and the gelding rose to the occasion in style. Ridden by his regular pilot Niranjan Parmar, Pendragon slid forward again to take up his customary role at the front of the field.

He travelled well around the home turn and into the straight, but then he was quickly joined and fiercely challenged by quality filly Quintessa (NZ) (Shamus Award). The pair drew well clear of the remainder of the field to fight out a desperate battle to the finish, with Pendragon returning everything Quintessa threw at him and coming out on top by a long head.

“He has been good right from the word go, although he probably needed gelding as a two-year-old,” Gerard said.

“I’m always nervous when they jump and lead like that, but he got there very easily today. He has run around a little bit in the straight, but hats off to Parmar – he gets on really well with him.

“Credit to the horse. He did this to them last week as well, and he has gone under the radar a little bit. He is just a gorgeous horse to look at, he is flying and he deserves it.”

Pendragon will now be pointed towards the $1.5m TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) at Ellerslie on January 27.

“We buy these horses at the sales and we want to get them to the Karaka Millions races,” Gerard said. “He has stepped up from 1200 metres, and now we will see if he can step up to the mile. We will put him in and find out.”

Pendragon’s half-brother by Time Test will be offered by Leanach Lodge in Book 2 of Karaka 2024, where he is catalogued as Lot 790.

Runner-up Quintessa was a $170,000 purchase by David Ellis from Book 1 of Karaka 2022. She has had five starts for three wins and two placings, headed by a Group Three win in the Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) in September. She has quickly earned $157,150 in stakes.

Vendor	Valachi Downs
Purchaser	Paul Moroney Bloodstock/Ballymore Stables (Waikato)
Breeding	U S Navy Flag – Kerre
Sale	Lot 888, Karaka 2022 Book 2, $110,000
Bred by	K J Hickman ONZM