Wigmore (NZ) Triumphs in South Australian Derby

The road from Karaka to A$1m Group One Thomas Farms South Australian Derby (2500m) glory has been well travelled in recent times, with Wigmore (NZ) (Sweynesse) becoming the fourth NZB graduate since 2021 to triumph in the Morphettville classic on Saturday.

Wigmore was offered by Ralph Thoroughbreds in Book 2 of Karaka 2024 and was bought by respected trainer Kevin Myers for $25,000. From an eight-race career, Wigmore has recorded two wins and two placings and has earned A$608,208 – almost 30 times his purchase price.

Initially trained by Myers’ daughter Caley, Wigmore was a maiden winner at Tauherenikau in January and went on to run a fast-finishing fourth in the $1.25m Group One New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie in March. That performance caught the eye of major syndicators OTI Racing, who purchased him and relocated him across the Tasman and into the stable of Phillip Stokes.

Wigmore made his Australian debut with a seventh in the Group Three Chairman’s Stakes (2000m) the week before the Derby. With the benefit of that run under his belt, and greatly appreciating the step back up in distance – being a half-brother to the Group Three New Zealand Cup (3200m) winner Mondorani (NZ) (Burgundy) – the former Kiwi three-year-old hit a new career high in Saturday’s showpiece.

Unleashed out wide in the home straight by jockey Teo Nugent, Wigmore charged home and set his sights on the Group One VRC Oaks (2500m) winner Strictly Business (Grunt). Wigmore caught that rival right on the finish line and won by a short head.

“Phil had this horse trained to the minute,” Nugent said. “This is still his first campaign, and to be in work for six months – he bucked me off when I got on, so he was feeling super well. Onwards and upwards for him, for sure.

“He trucked into it from a long way out. From the 600 I was in the perfect position. I got out to the middle of the track, where I thought the best place would be. The further we went, the more confident I got. He only got warm in the last 50 and through the line and took a bit to pull up.”

Stokes has quickly struck gold with his latest New Zealand-sourced newcomer.

“Terry Henderson (director of OTI Racing) rang me after the New Zealand Derby and asked if I could put together 25% of the ownership,” he said. “I rang a few of my mates and they came in, and I said we’d have a crack at the Derby.

“He arrived with us about three weeks after the New Zealand Derby. We just brought him along slowly. He’s very clean-winded.

“He hadn’t raced for eight weeks going into the Chairman’s, and he took good improvement from that. He did well through the week here, a big thanks to the team – this is huge.

“Big thanks to OTI, they’re massive supporters and we’ve had a few big wins together now. This is good for everyone, and there’s a lot of good owners involved. It’s great.

“It’s too early to make any plans with the horse. There’s the Queensland Derby (Group One, 2400m), but I’m not sure if I want to go that way. He’s done an amazing job after being up for so long. We could have a Melbourne Cup (Group One, 3200m) horse on our hands.”

Wigmore joins a list of recent South Australian Derby-winning Karaka graduates that also includes Dunkel (NZ) (Dundeel) in 2023, Jungle Magnate (NZ) (Tarzino) in 2022 and Explosive Jack (NZ) (Jakkalberry) in 2021. Two of those were sired by members of the Novara Park stallion roster, with Explosive Jack being a son of the late Jakkalberry while Wigmore is by the stud’s current stallion Sweynesse.

Vendor	Ralph Thoroughbreds
Purchaser	Mr KT Myers (Manawatu-Whanganui)
Breeder	Sweynesse – Del Mondo
Sale	Lot 687, Karaka 2024 Book 2, $25,000
Breeder	Mrs K L Murdoch & Shirley M Trust
Owner	OTI Wigmore, Mr P G Bruce, Mr A J Underwood, Mrs D J Neindorf, Mr J E Sarah, Mr R I Chapman, Chips In Racing, First Tuesday Racing, Webbmck Racing, Mr A H Goodfellow, Mr J P Spence, Mr M McKelvie, Mr P S Farrugia, Mr S E Young, Mr J C Higgins, Mrs D Kelly, Mr J Murphy, Mr R Koch, Beartown 40, G Force Racing