Tuxedo (NZ) Triumphs in Aotearoa Classic

Saturday’s $1m Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic (1600m) delivered million-dollar redemption for Karaka graduate Tuxedo (NZ) (Tivaci), who was the runner-up in the $1.5m TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) on the same night 12 months ago.

Tuxedo was a $70,000 purchase from Waikato Stud’s draft in Book 1 of Karaka 2023 by part-owner Grant Barnett. He has now earned $1.03m from a 12-start career that has produced five wins and three seconds. Notably, he also has a half-brother catalogued for Karaka 2026.

Opie Bosson took the ride on Tuxedo on Saturday and let him rip out of the pack in the home straight, reeling in the high-class mare Hinekaha (NZ) (Savabeel) to score a thrilling victory by a short neck.

“He travelled beautifully throughout and started to come up nicely underneath me,” Bosson said. “All I needed was a split. Once we got out and he got balanced up, he’s done the rest.

“I thought I was a big chance when I came out, but the mare kicked again inside us. He really stuck to his guns though and kept going.”

The Aotearoa Classic has been a long-range target all season for trainers Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray, and it all came together perfectly on the big night.

“This is hugely satisfying,” Ritchie said. “He’s always shown plenty of ability. We felt blinkers would help him.

“These clients have been with our stable for years and years and have put a lot of money in. Days like this make it all worthwhile. They really get a kick out of it and enjoy every moment. Racing is a fantastic game to bring people together, and I’m happy to be a part of it.

“I’d love to have a crack at Australia with this horse one day, but we’ll stay home for now. Maybe a race like the Otaki-Maori WFA Classic (Group One, 1600m) could be an option, and then perhaps the Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (Group One, 2000m) – that’s a race I’d obviously love to win.”

Waikato Stud will offer a half-brother to Tuxedo by Super Seth during Book 1 of Karaka 2026. The colt is catalogued as Lot 298.