Tavistock's Tutukaka to Target the Victoria Derby

Mark Smith - Saturday June 26

Melody Belle's half-brother Tutukaka will target the Victoria Derby in the spring after breaking his maiden with little more than a working gallop in Saturday's Listed Tattersall's Life Member Stakes (1830m) at Eagle Farm.

Placed at his first three starts, the Tavistock gelding was reunited with Michael Cahill after James McDonald, who was forced to return to Sydney due to Covid restrictions.

A race traditionally run at 1400m when most recently known as the Winning Edge Stakes, the Tattersall's Life Member Stakes drew a disappointing acceptance of five starters.

Settling outside the leader Calpurnia, Tutukaka was never out of second gear to defeat the Maurice (JPN), gelding Balmaurice by four lengths with a further three and a quarter-length back to the Wolf Cry gelding General Wolffe in third.

Runner-up at his first two starts at Hastings and the Sunshine Coast, Tutukaka came to the race off a third in the Listed The Phoenix at Eagle Farm, won by Volcanic Rock.  

The half-brother to 14-time Group One winner Melody Belle was purchased by his trainer Tony Pike for $250,000 out of Haunui Farm draft at the 2020 NZB Yearling Sale at Karaka.

Tutukaka a $250,000 Karaka yearling

Stable representative Chris McNab said they went to the race with a plan to ride Tutukaka like the best horse in the race.

"He relaxed beautifully. I said to Michael before the race that Tony rang me to say to take bad luck out of the equation and race outside the leader," McNab said.

"This is the race he came here for, so we couldn't be happier.

"He will fly him back home on Tuesday week.

"Tony doesn't miss anything. He had this race in mind, then head to Melbourne, so we are on track."

Tutukaka becomes the third winner from five to race out of the Iffraaj mare Meleka Belle a descendent of New Zealand's prolific "Belle" family.

The Written Tycoon Syndicate purchased her record-breaking daughter Melody Belle for $2,600,000 at the recent National broodmare Sale.

Bred and raced by Marie Leicester, Meleka Belle was the 15th and final named foal from the Sir Tristram mare Empress Belle.

Meleka Belle has a yearling filly by Snitzel named My Annie Belle and was covered by Pierro last spring.

Tutukaka becomes the 31st stakes-winner for Cambridge Stud's deceased Tavistock, who has two Victoria Derby winners on the honour roll, the 2015 winner Tarzino and last year's hero Johnny Get Angry.

Advertisment

Race Result - Tattersall's Life Member Stks LR 1830m

Eagle Farm Track: Good(4) Time: 1:57.53
1
Tutukaka
- 2g Tavistock (NZ) x Meleka Belle (NZ) (Iffraaj (GB))
Tnr: A W Pike Rdr: M Cahill 57
2
4.0
Balmaurice
- 2g Maurice (JPN) x Bal Du Siecle (GB) (Danehill Dancer (IRE))
Tnr: R G Lipp Rdr: Ben Thompson 57
3
7.3
General Wolffe
- 2g Wolf Cry (AUS) x Hypernova (NZ) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: R L Cameron Rdr: A Spinks 57
4
7.4
Kaytee Reinado
- 2g Real Impact (JPN) x Eternal Optimist (AUS) (Flying Spur (AUS))
Tnr: D Chujo Rdr: Noriyuki Masuda 57
5
11.7
Calpurnia
- 2f Holy Roman Emperor (IRE) x Sworntomylover (NZ) (Don Eduardo (NZ))
Tnr: J H Manzelmann Rdr: Ron Stewart 55
More Reading...
Barnstorming Win by Headwall in the Warra
The super-consistent Headwall reaped a just reward in the $300,000 Group III Snap Print Solutions Wollongong The Warra (1000m) at Kembla Grange.
Yes Yes Yes Filly wins $100,000 Crystal Slipper
The $100,000 WATC Magic Millions Crystal Slipper (1100m) at Ascot on Saturday drew a competitive field of 13 and Yes Yes Yes filly Yes Queen produced a brilliant performance to score a dominant debut victory.
On to the Derby - Tutukaka Impresses in the Geelong Classic
All roads lead to Flemington for $2million Group 1 Victoria Derby for Melody Belle's half-brother Tutukaka following his win Wednesday’s $200,000 Listed Geelong Classic (2200m).
Another Feature Win for La Crique
La Crique sprouted wings in the Pukekohe straight on Saturday to come from a near-hopeless position and win the Gr.2 Dunstan Horsefeeds Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) in a photo finish.
Xtravagant Gelding Nadal Brilliant in Meteorite
Ciaron Maher has a stranglehold on pop-up and slot races and was back in the winner's circle again after the inaugural running of the $1,000,000 The Ladbrokes Meteorite (1200m) at Cranbourne.
Kiwi Bred Comeback King Globe wins Cranbourne Cup
The super-talented Globe put a troubled 14 months behind him with a powerful all-the-way win in Saturday’s A$500,000 Listed Cranbourne Cup (1600m).
Savabeel Stayer wins G3 Counties Cup
Promising stayer Nereus put his current campaign back on track when he captured an action packed Gr.3 TAB Counties Cup (2100m) on Saturday.
Melody Belle Half-Brother Tutukaka Wins Taupo Cup
Tony Pike will press on with increased confidence toward loftier goals with Tutukaka after the son of Tavistock returned to winning ways in fine style on Friday.
Gringotts Continues Kiwi Winning Run in $1million The Gong
Kiwi bred Gringotts continued his coming-of-age campaign with a powerhouse front-running performance under 60kg to win Saturday’s Group III A$1 million The Illawarra Mercury Gong (1600m) at Kembla Grange.
Wings Of Song Makes Stunning Return
A star of the carnivals in Tasmania and South Australia, Wings Of Song made a triumphant return from a 30-week break to capture Saturday’s Rosemont Stud Pendant (1400m) at Cranbourne.