The late, great Tavistock showed, in the space of twenty minutes, why buyers should be beating a path to the New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale to secure a youngster from his final crop.
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained filly Ruthless Dame made a winning debut over 1300m at Sandown Lakeside and was quickly followed by a dominant performance of the Matthew Smith-trained Bedford Square over 1550m at Randwick.
Punters threw in for a win on Ruthless Dame.
The daughter of Tavistock had just one behind her at the 300m. The lone filly in the race, Ruthless Dame launched late for Jamie Kah.
Healey Bloodstock’s Maroubra was held up at a vital stage, but connections of the first crop son of Winx’s half-brother Boulder City would have been buoyed from the way he finished the race off, to be beaten a length.
The Toronado (IRE) colt Toronto Terrier was a further half-length back in third.
“Delighted for the team at Ballarat, she has been predominately down there, and winning a nice race like this,” stable representative Jack Turnbull said.
“We put a nose roll on as we felt she was not lowering and lengthening the way we would have liked, but I don’t think it will be on forever.
‘It was very professional for a young Tavistock, February 2yo. She did it well. Was cool, calm and collected and did everything that was asked of her.”
Bred by Go Bloodstock, Ruthless Dame was a $90,000 purchase by Ciaron Maher Racing from the Curraghmore draft from Book 1 of the 2021 NZB Karaka Yearling Sale.
The daughter of Tavistock is the second winner for the stakes-placed Keeper mare Ruthless Lady.
A $225,000 yearling purchase for David Ellis, Ruthless Lady is a half-sister to Group II winner Oracy (Zabeel) and dual Listed winner The Lady (Stravinsky).
Ruthless Lady’s dam Lady Dehere (Dehere) is a Group II winning half-sister to the triple Group 1 winner Sea Siren (Fastnet Rock), Group III winner and successful stallion Oratorio (Stravinsky) and Listed winner Discorsi (Galileo).
Up in Sydney, Bedford Square deserved a win after three consecutive seconds.
The 4yo daughter of Tavistock duly delivered under an enterprising ride by apprentice Dylan Gibbons.
The Matthew Smith-trained mare powered away over the final 200m to defeat Foxwedge mare Bella Violet by two and quarter lengths with a further three-quarter of a length back to the Real impact (JPN) mare Twice On Sunday in third.
An $80,000 purchase by John Foote Bloodstock / Matthew Smith Racing from the Woburn Farm draft at the 2019 NZB Ready To Run Sale, Bedford Square advances her record to two five four from 3 starts with earnings of $86,330.
Out of the Street Sense (USA) mare Superefficient, Bedford Square has a half-brother from the first crop by Savabeel’s New Zealand Two Thousand Guineas winner Embellish in the Kiltannon Stables draft at Karaka.Lot 1096
Tavistock has 15 yearlings from his final crop on offer at Karaka.