Tuxedo (NZ) Towers Over Guineas Rivals

Last-start $1m TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) placegetter Tuxedo (NZ) (Tivaci) stepped up to 2000 metres for the first time at Te Rapa on Saturday and blew his rivals off the track in the $275,000 Group Two Legacy Lodge Waikato Guineas.

Bought by part-owner Grant Barnett for $70,000 from Book 1 of Karaka 2023, Tuxedo has now had five starts for three wins, two seconds and $465,785 in stakes – more than six and a half times his purchase price.

Tuxedo made a big impression in the spring with wins in both of his first two starts, including the Group Three Wellington Stakes (1600m) at Otaki in November. His next two appearances produced runner-up finishes at Ellerslie, including behind Damask Rose (NZ) (Savabeel) in the Karaka Millions 3YO on January 25.

Trainers Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray decided to test the waters of longer distances on Saturday, with a potential tilt at next month’s $1.25m Group One New Zealand Derby (2400m) looming large on the horizon. Tuxedo treated the Te Rapa crowd to exactly the type of performance his connections were hoping for.

After settling in third-last, Tuxedo began to advance around the outside of the field coming up to the home turn. He had moved up into fourth at the top of the straight, then quickened again to blast past the leader and take command of the race. Tuxedo opened up a winning margin of three and a half lengths over fellow Karaka 2023 graduate Bourbon Proof (Justify), with another four and a half lengths back to the third-placed Amazing Fluke (The Autumn Sun).

“I was very impressed,” jockey Joe Doyle said. “In his last couple of runs, we gave him a squeeze early on from good gates and he seemed to travel a bit too strongly. Today he relaxed so well, so I’m sure he’ll give himself every chance of seeing out a Derby trip.

“He went straight past them in the straight, then pricked his ears and had a good look around. There’s loads left in him. He’s a very exciting horse.

“Opportunities like this don’t come up every day. It’s very exciting to be heading towards a Derby with such a strong chance.

“He’s a three-year-old with a lot of class. He’s still a bit unfurnished, but I have no doubt he’ll give people something to shout about in the Derby.”

Ritchie and Murray were hugely satisfied with Tuxedo’s Guineas performance.

“We couldn’t be happier with that,” Murray said. “Joe got him to settle lovely out the back, and then showed a nice turn of foot coming around the bend. He was flicking his ears and looking around in the straight, so there’s a bit left in the tank.

“The more racing he’s done, the better he’s relaxing. He settled great in his work during the week, and seeing that performance today makes us very happy.

“We’re thinking we want to head to a Derby now. What we do with him between now and then depends on how he pulls up from this.”

Runner-up Bourbon Proof was a $130,000 purchase from Book 1 of Karaka 2023. His seven-start career has produced a win, four seconds and $150,725 in stakes.

Vendor	Waikato Stud Ltd
Purchaser	Mr GI Barnett (Auckland)
Breeding	Tivaci – Ball Gown
Sale	Lot 55, Karaka 2023 Book 1, $70,000
Bred by	Waikato Stud Ltd