Markus Aurelius (NZ) Masters Coupland’s Bakeries Mile

Media Release - Thursday November 11

Born and raised in Otago and sold at New Zealand Bloodstock’s South Island Sale, Markus Aurelius (NZ) (Ghibellines) made a triumphant southern homecoming in Wednesday’s $230,000 Group Two Coupland’s Bakeries Mile (1600m) at Riccarton Park.

Bought for just $13,000 by Te Akau Racing’s David Ellis from the draft of his breeders White Robe Lodge, the gelding has now won seven of his 16 starts and $246,771 in stakes – more than 18 times his purchase price.

Markus Aurelius (NZ) is triumphant in the 2021 Group Two Coupland’s Bakeries Mile (1600m). Photo: Race Images.

The Coupland’s Bakeries Mile had been earmarked for more than six months as a long-term target for Markus Aurelius, following a breakthrough 2020-21 season that featured five wins from nine appearances.

Advertisement

The Jamie Richards-trained runner had risen to be among the topweights at 57.5 kilograms, and his task was made even tougher by the extreme outside gate in a field of 13.

But champion jockey Opie Bosson went forward and took up a perfect position trailing the front-running Seriously (NZ) (O’Reilly).

Markus Aurelius loomed alongside the leader at the top of Riccarton’s long home straight, and he fought off all challengers through the last 400 metres to score by three-quarters of a length.

“He just travelled beautifully for me throughout the race,” Bosson said. “We got a little bit of cover in behind the leader, which was what we were looking for.

“I thought I was a sitting duck and I was a bit worried when the other ones came up beside me, but I just brought him out a little bit so he could see them. To his credit, he just kept digging.”

Richards was represented at Riccarton on Wednesday by assistant trainer Sam Bergerson.

“When he got stuck wide, he had no choice but to go forward, and that was probably the winning of the race,” Bergerson said. “He has been consistent all season long and run some brilliant races down here, and it is great to see him get the result.”

The win continued a remarkable week for Richards, Bosson and the Te Akau team, who won Saturday’s $500,000 Group One New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) with Karaka graduate Noverre (NZ) (Savabeel). The same combination previously won the Coupland’s Bakeries Mile in 2018 with another top-class galloper sourced from Karaka, the multiple Group One winner Te Akau Shark (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle).

Wednesday’s Coupland’s Bakeries Mile was an NZB quinella, with runner-up Seriously purchased for $220,000 from the draft of Waikato Stud at the 2017 Premier Sale.

Advertisment

Race Result - 17th Coupland's Bakeries Mile Gr2 1600m

Riccarton Park Track: Dead(4) Time: 1:36.29
1
Markus Aurelius
- 5g Ghibellines (AUS) x Evancho (AUS) (Shinzig (AUS))
Tnr: J W Richards Rdr: O P Bosson 57.5
2
0.8
Seriously
- 6g O'Reilly (NZ) x Promenade (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: M E Cunneen Rdr: C W Johnson 53
3
1.3
Colorado Star
- 6g Alamosa (NZ) x Elegant Emerald (AUS) (Unbridled's Song (USA))
Tnr: M P Breslin Rdr: L T Hemi 58
4
1.8
Miss Tycoon Rose
- 4m Written Tycoon (AUS) x Splat (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: M & M Pitman Rdr: C J Grylls 56
5
3.3
Zoltan
- 4g Iffraaj (GB) x Ebony Babe (NZ) (Ebony Grosve (NZ))
Tnr: K Rae & K Williams-Tuhoro Rdr: T R Moseley 53
6
3.6
Germanicus
- 6g Rip Van Winkle (IRE) x St Germaine (NZ) (Keeper (AUS))
Tnr: Ms D Guy Rdr: S R Weatherley 55
7
4.0
Lightning Jack
- 5g Per Incanto (USA) x La Petite (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: K & A Tyler Rdr: Ms K Williams 58.5
8
4.4
Dawn Parade
- 4g Dawn Approach (IRE) x Cuchurita (CHI) (Dushyantor (USA))
Tnr: A W Pike Rdr: K Asano 53
9
6.6
Hasabro
- 6g Savabeel (AUS) x Halloween (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: Andrew Carston Rdr: J R Lowry 59
10
9.1
Rock Sensation
- 5g Rock 'n' Pop (AUS) x Cold Snap (NZ) (Pins (AUS))
Tnr: M & M Pitman Rdr: K Chowdhoory 53
11
9.5
William Wallace
- 9g Darci Brahma (NZ) x Huluava (NZ) (Pins (AUS))
Tnr: A M Bull Rdr: S J Macnab 53
12
11.2
Whale Song
- 6g Ocean Park (NZ) x Nadel Dame (NZ) (Pins (AUS))
Tnr: M & M Pitman Rdr: S L Wynne 55.5
13
25.8
Maximus Prime
- 5g Echoes Of Heaven (AUS) x Miss Martika (NZ) (Brief Truce (USA))
Tnr: J C Blackadder Rdr: A Comignaghi 53.5
More Reading...
Fangirl Leads Waller Trifecta in G2 Apollo Stakes
The $300,000 Group II ATC Apollo Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday is the traditional starting point for elite WFA horses seeking autumn glory in Sydney and the first three over the line are all trained by Chris Waller with the mighty Fangirl leading the way.
Godolphin win G3 Triscay with Zoustar Mare
Godolphin don’t purchase many yearlings, but one that they did is four year-old Zoustar mare Inhibitions and she ended a frustrating run of stakes placings to win her first stakes race when taking out the $250,000 Group III ATC Triscay Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday and she has a full sister headed to Inglis Easter.
Sires With Winners - Saturday February 15
Here is the full list of 99 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Singapore Connection Delivers Sepals G3 CS Hayes
The $200,000 Group III VRC CS Hayes Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on Saturday produced a dominant winner in lightly raced Calyx (GB) gelding Sepals, an $80,000 Inglis Classic purchase from Vinery Stud for his trainer Cliff Brown, who enjoyed much success in Singapore before returning to Australia.
G1 Lightning Triumph for Skybird - Magical Week for HP Thoroughbreds
Anthony and Kristen Evans from HP Thoroughbreds thought they’d had a great week when they sold their highest ever priced yearling at Inglis Classic but it got quite a bit better when one of their previous Classic graduates won the Group I Lightning Stakes at Flemington on Saturday.
Rise At Dawn Resumes In Style
Next month’s A$2.5 million Gr.1 All-Star Mile (1600m) is looming large on the horizon for Rise At Dawn, who scored his fourth win in succession with a smart first-up performance in the A$175,000 Listed The Elms Handicap (1400m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Blueblood Written Tycoon Filly Wins Listed Desirable
The ‘golden crop’ of champion sire Written Tycoon unearthed a new stakes-winner at Flemington on Saturday when progressive filly Cilcap made a winning first attempt at stakes class to take out the Listed VRC Desirable Stakes (1400m).
La Dorada Claims Local Victory In Matamata Feature
Local filly La Dorada backed up from her stunning victory in the Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) last month with another gritty performance to take out her home track feature, the Gr.2 J Swap Contractors Ltd Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) on Saturday.
What You Wish For Completes Big Treble For Te Akau
Matamata’s biggest day of the year was completely dominated by Te Akau Racing, who won three of the four black-type features on Saturday afternoon.
Lady Shenandoah Stunning In Light Fingers Return
Despite being a Group I winner, three-year-old filly Lady Shenandoah has thus far been cast in the shadow of one of her stablemates, however after a stunning autumn return in the Group II Light Fingers Stakes, it is looking like this one is the star attraction.