breednet.com.au

Gavelhouse Bargain Buy on Track for NZ Cup

Media Release - Saturday November 6

Topweight Mr Intelligence gave his rivals weight and a beating as he provided the perfect dress rehearsal for next weeks’ Gr.3 Martin Collins New Zealand Cup (3200m) when he took out the traditional lead-up event, the Listed Nautical Boat Insurance Metropolitan Trophy (2500m) on Saturday.

Mr Intelligence is well clear as he takes out the Listed Nautical Boat Insurance Metropolitan Trophy (2500m) at Riccarton Photo Credit: Race Images South

Tapanui-base trainers Nikki and Barrie Blatch brought the lightly raced six-year-old son of Niagara north to Riccarton in recent weeks as they furthered the Cup preparation for their charge, who had been rounding into good form as evidenced by a gritty run for fifth in the Listed Sothys Spring Classic (2000m) a fortnight ago.

Advertisement

Largely ignored by punters who let him go out at odds of $16, Mr Intelligence handled his 59kgs impost with ease as he burst to the front halfway down the straight before powering clear to win comfortably by one and a half lengths from Taranaki visitor Beaudz Well, who had tracked him throughout.

Nikki Blatch was over the moon with the win and is looking forward to next week and the New Zealand Cup, provided Mr Intelligence pulls up well from his exertions.

“He has probably been a little underrated, but not by us and that is all that matters,” she said.

“As long as he comes home and pulls up well then we will be looking forward to next week.

“It’s pretty much one race at a time with him as he has had a tendon injury, but that gives us plenty of hope as he carried the weight well and there is no penalty for next week.”

The win capped off a top day for the Blatch team after they had taken out the first race on the card with promising maiden Leroy, who gained his first win at just his fourth start.

Bred by Gordon Cunningham, Mr Intelligence is owned by his trainers who purchased him for $4,750 off the gavelhouse.com website.

He has now won six of his 29 starts along with being placed on four further occasions including finishing runner-up in the 2020 Listed Dunedin Gold Cup (2400m).

Bookmakers have Mr Intelligence as the joint second favourite at $7 for the New Zealand Cup, behind current favourite Beaudz Well at $5. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment

Race Result - Metropolitan Trophy LR 2500m

Riccarton Park Track: Good(3) Time: 2:37.37
1
Mr Intelligence
- 6g Niagara (AUS) x All Knowledge (AUS) (Knowledge (AUS))
Tnr: N & B Blatch Rdr: J R Lowry 59
2
1.5
Beaudz Well
- 5g Zed (NZ) x Celtic Rose (NZ) (Pins (AUS))
Tnr: J R Wheeler Rdr: S R Weatherley 54.5
3
2.3
Madam De Soir
- 10m Raise The Flag (GB) x Grace De Soir (NZ) (Volksraad (GB))
Tnr: Danny Crozier Rdr: A Comignaghi 54
4
2.5
Mondorani
- 7g Burgundy (NZ) x Del Mondo (USA) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: K T Myers Rdr: S J Macnab 54
5
2.8
Riviera Rock
- 7g Road To Rock (AUS) x Sheezashotseye (NZ) (Cicerao (IRE))
Tnr: G K Eade Rdr: S L Wynne 57.5
6
2.9
Lincoln King
- 7g Shocking (AUS) x Shi Kin Fly (NZ) (Shinko King (IRE))
Tnr: S B Marsh Rdr: D S Johnson 54.5
7
3.0
Dee And Gee
- 8m Darci Brahma (NZ) x Gabana (NZ) (Jungle Pocket (JPN))
Tnr: P R Corbett Rdr: T L Newman 57
8
4.7
Wannabe 'n' Paris
- 5m Reliable Man (GB) x Wannabe Queen (USA) (Bernstein (USA))
Tnr: P D Harris Rdr: T R Moseley 54
9
5.9
Point Score
- 6g Ekraar (USA) x The Top Hat (NZ) (Anziyan (USA))
Tnr: E E Winsloe Rdr: C W Johnson 54
10
6.8
Southern Ocean
- 5g Ocean Park (NZ) x Viana (NZ) (Volksraad (GB))
Tnr: Ms T Rae Rdr: L J Allpress 57
11
8.8
Swords Drawn
- 6g Camelot (GB) x Sarvon (AUS) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: S Ritchie & C Murray Rdr: C J Grylls 56
12
13.9
Miss Tavi
- 6m Tavistock (NZ) x Qui Vivra Verra (NZ) (Stravinsky (USA))
Tnr: Ms L Prendergast Rdr: Ms K Williams 54
13
14.4
Notabadharada
- 6g Haradasun (AUS) x Alicia Markova (NZ) (Entrepreneur (GB))
Tnr: C T Faulkner Rdr: Rohan Mudhoo 54
14
15.3
Asathought
- 5m So You Think (NZ) x Asavant (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: Ms L Vaughan Rdr: K Asano 54
More Reading...
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.
Rosemont and Partners Stakes Quinella on Cup Day
Written Tycoon posted his second new stakes-winner on Melbourne Cup Day when promising three year-old gelding Catoggio took out the Listed VRC Amanda Elliot Stakes (1400m)  for Rosemont Stud and partners, who also race the second horse Bosustow.
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.
Cup Day Stakes-Winner for So You Think
The Listed VRC TAB Trophy (1800m) for three year-olds on Cup Day at Flemington drew a competitive field of up and comers with So You Think gelding Opening Address stamping himself as a bright prospect for the future with a stylish victory.
Knights Choice a True Underdog Story
Punters were left stunned when the Queenslander Knight's Choice and Japanese visitor Warp Speed (JPN) emerged from the pack to fight out a dramatic finish to the $8,560,000 Group 1 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) 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.
Storm Boy Headed to Ireland
Coolmore have today announced via Twitter that top class Justify (USA) colt Storm Boy will be continuing his racing career in Ireland in 2025 under the care of Aidan O’Brien.
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.
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.
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.