2YO Stakes-Winner for El Roca

Media Release - Saturday July 31

Talented filly Ima Roca Bee produced an undeniable finish in testing conditions to take out the final stakes race of the 2020/21 racing season, the Listed Courtesy Ford Ryder (1200m) at Otaki.

The two-year-old daughter of El Roca had looked to be rounding into some useful form when narrowly beaten in the Listed Castletown Stakes (1200m) at her last start and went one better on this occasion, courtesy of a patient ride by promising apprentice Erin Leighton.

Ima Roca Bee responds to rider Erin Leighton as she claims victory in the Listed Courtesy Ford Ryder Stakes (1200m) at Otaki Photo Credit: Race Images – Peter Rubery

Despite an eight-week break since her last run, Ima Roca Bee proved the strongest in the field as she came from last at the 600m to drive past the well fancied Yeaboi in the final 150m to break her maiden status at just her fourth start.

Bred and raced by her trainer Karyn McQuade, in conjunction with husband Hamish, Ima Roca Bee has some early three-year-old features on her dance card after showing she can foot it at stakes level with the victory, in addition to handling rain-affected going.

Advertisement

“We’re just thrilled with the win as she has showed us she has ability, but probably wasn’t quite there mentally early on,” Hamish McQuade said.

“She just wanted to do everything at a million miles an hour and that was how she was in her first couple of starts.

“After she had a break, she settled down nicely and has come back really well.

“She has a deceptive appearance as she isn’t that big overall, but she has long legs and a really long stride.

“Erin gets on well with her and that was a top ride as she was patient and when she asked for an effort, the acceleration was there when she needed it.”

A tilt at the Listed O’Leary Fillies Stakes (1200m) at Whanganui in early September is now the aim with Ima Roca Bee, before she heads to the paddock for an extended summer break.

“We’ll give her a few days off now and then head down to Whanganui for the stakes race there,” McQuade said.

“I do think she will go on the better tracks but at this stage our plan is to give her a really good spell after Whanganui and then get her back for some autumn targets.

“She comes from a nice family that has done well for us and ultimately she will become part of our broodmare band, so with a stakes win already, she is very valuable filly for us.”

The McQuade team almost made it a winning double when Midnite Invasion finished close up in third at Rotorua, as she gets ready for a date with Mapperley Stud resident stallion Contributer in the coming months before also heading to the matron’s paddock later in the season.

Ima Roca Bee is out of the Pentire mare Shelley Bee, who had finished unplaced in the Ryder Stakes during her two-year-old season. She is the dam of useful performers Shellez Ace (4 wins) and is a half-sister to Gr.1 Metropolitan Handicap (2600m) winner Herculian Prince.

The victory was the first stakes win for an ecstatic Leighton, who has been in a purple patch of form of late and completed a winning double when successful aboard the Wayne Moorhead-trained Hey Hey Hey in the last race on the card. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment

Race Result - Ryder Stakes LR 1200m

Otaki Track: Heavy(11) Time: 1:16.89
1
Ima Roca Bee
- 2f El Roca (AUS) x Shelly Bee (NZ) (Pentire (GB))
Tnr: Ms K McQuade Rdr: E M Leighton 54.5
2
1.3
Yeaboi
- 2g Belardo (IRE) x Spiffy Iffie (NZ) (Iffraaj (GB))
Tnr: S A Sharrock Rdr: R H Schofer 56.5
3
3.1
Flash Mary
- 2f El Roca (AUS) x Claudy Eire (AUS) (Promontory Gold (USA))
Tnr: Debbie Sweeney Rdr: L H Satherley 54.5
4
7.1
Bellacontte
- 2f Burgundy (NZ) x Devon Doll (NZ) (Tavistock (NZ))
Tnr: C A Bambry Rdr: S J Macnab 54.5
5
10.4
Catsacharmer
- 2f Charm Spirit (IRE) x Catwomandu (NZ) (Tale Of The Cat (USA))
Tnr: S A Sharrock Rdr: D S Johnson 54.5
6
15.7
Over The Moon
- 2f Vespa (NZ) x Moons Of Jupiter (AUS) (Commands (AUS))
Tnr: S Ralph Rdr: Callum Jones 54.5
7
17.5
Tui Rocks
- 2f El Roca (AUS) x Lola Beetle (AUS) (Snippetson (AUS))
Tnr: G D Innes Rdr: L J Allpress 54.5
8
18.5
Burgundy Dancer
- 2g Burgundy (NZ) x Choreography (NZ) (Volksraad (GB))
Tnr: C W Gibbs Rdr: J J Fawcett 56.5
More Reading...
City of Troy Crowned 2024 Cartier European Horse of the Year
Outstanding Justify colt City of Troy was crowned Horse of the Year at the 2024 Cartier awards on Wednesday night in London at a star studded ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel.
Sires With Winners - Saturday November 23
Here is the full list of 117 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
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.
Sires With Winners - Friday November 22
Here is the full list of 46 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
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.
Sires With Winners - Thursday November 21
Here is the full list of 32 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
$1.3million Snitzel Colt Ready to Fire on Debut for Te Akau
Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson are confident they have the young firepower to make an early impression in the first of the black type features at Pukekohe Park on Saturday.
Storyville Downs the Colts in G2 WA Guineas
The WA Champion Fillies Stakes heroine Storyville earned a shot at the Group 1 Northerly Stakes after she gave the colts a start and beating in Saturday’s $500,000 Group II White Claw - WA Guineas (1600m) at Ascot.
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.