Smart Mare Vavasour Wins Another Staying Cup feature

Smart staying mare Vavasour (NZ) (Redoute’s Choice) again displayed her ability with a strong win in the $100,000 Group 3 Skycity Hamilton Waikato Cup (2400m) at Te Rapa on Saturday.

Vavasour scores Group 2 Waikato Cup.  Photo courtesy of Trish Dunell

A winner of the Group 3 Counties Cup at her last start, Vavasour returned to the track where she won the Group 2 Sir Tristram Fillies Classic last season, the first of her now three wins at black-type level.

A Karaka Premier Sale graduate, Vavasour drew barrier 11 in the 12-horse field for rider Danielle Johnson. The daughter of Redoute’s Choice travelled in second position, stalking Saint Emilion (NZ) (Mastercraftsman) throughout most of the 2400 metre.

Starting as race-favourite, Vavasour hit the lead half way down the home straight and cleared out to win by 1.5 lengths over The Tidy Express  (NZ) (Volksraad) in second with topweight Decorah (NZ (Pins) only a nose back in third.

Trained by Peter & Dawn Williams and Paul Richards, Vavasour holds a nomination for the Group 3 City of Auckland Cup on New Year’s Day with her trainers yet to decide where she goes next.

“She’s just ticking over at the moment, and we’ll wait and see how the handicapper treats her at the weights,” commented Richards.

Owned by Sarah Green and Ger Beemsterboer of Barnswood Farm Ltd, Vavasour has earned $252,950 with five wins from 15 starts. Beemsterboer purchased the mare at the 2013 Karaka Premier Sale for $425,000 from Haunui Farm.

Bred by Garry Cranny, Frantic Bloodstock Ltd & Haunui Bloodstock Ltd, Vavasour is out of Group 3 winning mare Valpolicella (Red Ransom) and is a half-sister to Group 2 winner Vilanova (Commands).