Makfi Filly Wins Canterbury Belle Stakes

Media Release - Saturday October 3

Destined to join the stable of Chris Waller, local filly Matchmaker gave her rivals a start and a beating when she took out Saturday’s Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) at Riccarton.

Matchmaker proves too strong - Photo Credit: Race Images South

The Nick Wigley and Kayla Milnes-trained three-year-old had been touted as a topliner in the making after she blitzed her rivals over 1000m on debut at Riccarton back in July.

That win saw Indian-born Sydneysider Manoj Wanzare, a fund manager who has enjoyed recent success as a part-owner of Group One star Verry Elleegant and last weekend's Gr.2 Golden Pendant (1400m) winner Subpoenaed, buy a fifty percent stake in the filly from her breeder/owners Gus and Bianca Wigley.

Conditions of the deal have allowed her trainers to keep her in their stable until after next month's Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton when she will transfer to Sydney mentor Chris Waller.

Advertisement

The Group One goal looks to be right on schedule after Matchmaker downed several of her likely 1000 Guineas rivals with an eye-catching performance.

Rider Tina Comignaghi settled the daughter of Makfi beyond midfield before angling her wide in the home straight to get a clear run at the leaders. Matchmaker burst to the lead at the 150m and dashed away from Matamata filly Laced With Gold who chased her hard but was still more than a length in arrears at the line.

Wigley admitted he had been a little worried before the race about the firm track but once he saw his charge stretch out in the straight those thoughts were quickly dispelled.

“She won her first race on a slow track so I was a wee bit concerned about how firm it was today,” Wigley said.

“She looked a little scratchy early on but once she got into her rhythm she seemed to be just fine.

“She settled beautifully and when Tina angled her into the clear she burst to them pretty quickly.

“It has been a dream of both Gus and I to win this race and now we’ve done it the feeling is just indescribable.”

Wigley was buoyed by comments he received from Comignaghi after the race as he looks forward to the 1000 Guineas on November 14.

“Tina came back in and was thrilled with how the filly had gone,” he said.

“One of the first things she said to me was she felt the horse was already looking for more ground which is nice to hear when you are trying to get her out to a mile.

“We’re going to give her one more run which could be either at Ashburton over 1400m or one here and then she will go the Guineas after that.”

Bred by Gus Wigley and his wife Bianca under the family’s Inglewood Stud banner, Matchmaker is from an extended family that includes multiple stakes winner Dynamic Love.

TAB Bookmakers reacted to the victory by moving Matchmaker into second favourite at $8 in their 1000 Guineas market behind Gr.3 Hawke’s Bay Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) winner Miss Aotearoa at $5.50. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment

Race Result - Canterbury Belle LR 1200m

Riccarton Park Track: Good(3) Time: 1:07.90
1
Matchmaker
- 3f Makfi (GB) x Love Somebody (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: N Wigley & K Milnes Rdr: A Comignaghi 56.5
2
1.3
Laced With Gold
- 3f Showcasing (GB) x Malta Badia (IRE) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: S Autridge & K Shailer Rdr: C J Grylls 56.5
3
2.3
Stella Creek
- 3f Per Incanto (USA) x Cherry Creek (AUS) (Monashee Mountain (USA))
Tnr: Ms T Rae Rdr: Ms K Williams 56.5
4
3.1
Cornflower Blue
- 3f Savabeel (AUS) x Tiffany Yellow (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: J W Richards Rdr: S L Wynne 56.5
5
3.2
Miss Tycoon Rose
- 3f Written Tycoon (AUS) x Splat (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: M & M Pitman Rdr: K Chowdhoory 56.5
6
4.9
The Gift
- 3f Power (GB) x Trust (NZ) (Dehere (USA))
Tnr: R C Dennis Rdr: K Mudhoo 56.5
7
5.0
Walkthisswey
- 3f Sweynesse (AUS) x Endoftheinnocence (NZ) (Swiss Ace (AUS))
Tnr: P D Harris Rdr: S J Macnab 56.5
8
5.8
Lovebug
- 3f Iffraaj (GB) x L'amour (NZ) (Towkay (AUS))
Tnr: M & M Pitman Rdr: J J Fawcett 56.5
9
7.1
Showemhowitsdone
- 3f Showcasing (GB) x Jaffari (NZ) (Iffraaj (GB))
Tnr: S Kennedy & A Furlong Rdr: B M Murray 56.5
10
7.7
She's Recommended
- 3f Highly Recommended (AUS) x Volonte (NZ) (My Halo (ARG))
Tnr: L R Beckett Rdr: T R Moseley 56.5
11
7.9
Eva James
- 3f Super Easy (NZ) x Imperial Miss (NZ) (Shinko King (IRE))
Tnr: K Rae & K Williams-Tuhoro Rdr: L Callaway 56.5
12
12.8
Adannaya
- 3f Niagara (AUS) x Elusive Tracy (NZ) (Elusive City (USA))
Tnr: L M Robinson Rdr: C A Campbell 56.5
13
14.9
Amosia
- 3f Squamosa (AUS) x Banditti (AUS) (Last Tycoon (IRE))
Tnr: Ms L Latta Rdr: K Asano 56.5
14
39.0
Lightning Ridge
- 3f Highly Recommended (AUS) x Sefidi (NZ) (Bigstone (IRE))
Tnr: P D Harris Rdr: C R Barnes 56.5
More Reading...
Magic Nick Strikes Again – Fastnet Rock x Galileo
The Fastnet Rock x Galileo nick has been on fire in Melbourne this spring producing Cox Plate winner Via Sistina (IRE) and leading Melbourne Cup contender Buckaroo (GB) and it struck again overnight in the UK with a brand new stakes-winner in Military Academy, who captured the Listed Floodlit Stakes (1m4f) at Kempton.
Sires With Winners - Monday November 4
Here is the full list of 21 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Coolmore Set Justify Fee for 2025
Coolmore have announced the US fee for Justify in 2025 with the undefeated Triple Crown winner priced at $US250,000 to head  their roster of 16 stallions at Ashford Stud in Kentucky.
All Too Hard's Arran Bay Brave in the Furphy Plate
Phillip Stokes admitted his preference was to run Arran Bay in the Listed John Letts Cup at Morphettville but was overruled by the owners, who made the correct decision in favouring the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) at Flemington.
Antrim Coast to Fly Flag for The Oaks Stud
The well-renowned colours of The Oaks Stud will feature across two feature Trans-Tasman meetings this week, kicking off with Antrim Coast lining up in the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) on Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington.
$6million Frankel Mare Tops Fasig -Tipton November Sale
The Fasig-Tipton November Sale, billed as the World’s Premier Breeding Stock Event, was held Monday at the company’s Newtown Paddocks in Lexington, Kentucky. Twenty-five offerings sold for $1,000,000 or more, led by a trio of Grade/Group 1 winners with international appeal.
2024 Melbourne Cup Result - It's Knights Choice
The 2024 Melbourne Cup has been run and won with Knight’s Choice, a five-year-old gelding by Extreme Choice victorious.
Melbourne Cup Pedigree Analysis - Do It Yourself
Breednet has produced a great page with click through to five generation pedigrees for all the Melbourne Cup runners, so for amateur pedigree buffs looking to have a Cup flutter based pedigree here’s your chance  to DIY it!
Kiwi Bred Grey Wins Subzero for OTI at Flemington
New Zealand-bred gelding Cloudland proved a handful for James McDonald at Flemington on Tuesday, but the champion jockey was in a forgiving mood after they had claimed top honours in the Subzero Handicap.
El Vencedor wins G3 Balmerino Stakes
El Vencedor is making a habit of picking up major victories at Ellerslie, adding the Gr.3 Balmerino Stakes (2000m) to his burgeoning record at Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup Day meeting.