Recite (NZ) Dominates Against Older Mares

Last start Group 1 Levin Classic winner Recite (NZ) (Darci Brahma) disposed of the older mares in the Listed $50,000 Pioneer Finance Wairapapa Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) with a dominant victory on Waitangi Day at Tauherenikau.

The John Bary trained filly started as the race-favourite and jumped straight to the lead for rider Mark du Plessis and controlled the tempo of the race. As the Darci Brahma filly entered the straight she dashed away from the field to claim victory by an easy 2.5 lengths to beat the older mares at weight-for-age level.

“Her work in the Saturday before the race was the best it has been as a three-year-old so we were pretty bullish,” said Bary. “Obviously you don’t know against the older horses but on her work we were very happy.

“We will sort out her plans as the week goes along. It is likely to either be the Group 1 Haunui Classic or the spelling paddock.

“She has come through the race really well but we are mindful of where we go. It is good to have her back but we would like to set her for a big four-year-old campaign as well. Ideally it is now about winning a Group 1 in Australia for Darci Brahma, that would be one of her big aims.

“You can’t go to Australia unless you’re 110% and I just feel, even though she is racing very well, she isn’t very big and if she had some more weight we would be confident. We will monitor for the next week or two and keep talking to Rick (Williams) as we go along.”

The three-year-old filly has won six of her 10 raceday appearances, five of those at stakes level, and has earned $445,775 in prizemoney for her owner The Oaks Stud.

Bred by The Oaks Stud, Recite is by Darci Brahma, currently the second leading sire in New Zealand, and is out of dual stakes winner Chant (Traditionally). The Oaks Stud offered Recite at the 2012 Karaka Premier Sale but was unable to reach her reserve and was retained to race by her breeders.