New Stakes-Winner for El Roca

Media Release - Saturday March 26

Trainer Ken Rae admits it’s not often a plan comes together perfectly, but that was the case on Saturday when Irish Girl proved too tough for her rivals in the Gr.3 Valachi Downs South Island Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at Riccarton.

Irish Girl stretches out nicely to win the Gr.3 Valachi Downs South Island Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at Riccarton  Photo Credit: Race Images South

Rae prepares the rugged five-year-old daughter of El Roca in partnership with his daughter Krystal Williams-Tuhoro, who had accompanied the mare south from their Ruakaka base earlier in the week.

Rae had pencilled in the Group Three feature for his charge some time ago but planning a path to Riccarton had proved to be a challenging exercise.

“When she ran second at Ellerslie on New Zealand Derby day, I said to her owners that we would go to the Cuddle Stakes ($80,000 Gr.3, 1600m) at Trentham and then to this race today,” Rae said.

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“Then they left the nominations open for a $70,000 1400m race at Ellerslie on Auckland Cup day so I thought why not have a go at that, as it was worth just less than Trentham and was closer to home.

“We changed our plans and ran second there and we could still go south to have a crack at this race.

“It turned out to be a great plan in the end, as it is not often you change things like that and they work out but this time it has.”

Rae did admit there had been a few travel hiccups on the way which necessitated a long drive and early start for his daughter last Sunday.

“I had tried to book her with Majestic Horse Transport to get to Riccarton but they couldn’t take her when we needed her to go,” he said.

“I ended up making a booking on the Wellington ferry for the crossing at 2am on Monday morning so Krystal drove her all the way down there on Sunday to make the boat and then carried on to Christchurch.

“She said the mare just took it all in her stride and has thrived all week.

“While she is no Melody Belle, she is one tough cookie and she showed that with how well she fought in the straight to get the win.”

Rae will now look at further local options for Irish Girl while he is also toying with putting her on a plane to Brisbane to tackle races during the winter carnival there.

“Today was her grand final so everything we do after this is just a bonus,” he said.

“There are a couple of options here at home but in a handicap, she will have to carry 60kgs or more,” he said.

“I’m having a think about maybe freshening her and then taking her to Brisbane as there are so many suitable options for a mare like her.

“I’ve always thought she was good enough to be competitive over there, so while she is in form, it seems a sensible decision to try and have a go at them.”

El Roca

Irish Girl is the sixth stakes-winner for Westbury Stud's El Roca and is out of the useful race mare Aimee’s Babe. Irish Girl is a grand-daughter of stakes winner Aimee’s Idol and has now won six of her 19 starts and over $174,000 in prizemoney. – NZ Racing Desk

Visit the profile page for El Roca

El Roca in upcoming sales:
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Race Result - Valachi Downs T'bred Breeders' Gr3 1600m

Riccarton Park Track: Dead(4) Time: 1:37.55
1
Irish Girl
- 5m El Roca (AUS) x Aimees Babe (NZ) (Postponed (USA))
Tnr: K Rae & K Williams-Tuhoro Rdr: T R Moseley 55
2
1.0
Zouluminous
- 5m Zoustar (AUS) x Luminous Harmony (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: J W Richards Rdr: Rohan Mudhoo 55
Zoustar
Inglis September (Late) Online Sale $20,000
Seller: Moloney Racing
Buyer: Coolarest Farm
MM Gold Coast Yearling Sale $160,000
Seller: Kulani Park, Goulburn Weir, Vic
Buyer: John Moloney
3
1.8
Fettercairn
- 4m Highly Recommended (AUS) x Princess Halo (NZ) (My Halo (ARG))
Tnr: Shane Laming Rdr: B M Murray 55
4
2.6
Four Queens
- 4m Tavistock (NZ) x Diamond Deck (NZ) (Octagonal (NZ))
Tnr: A W Pike Rdr: K Asano 55
5
2.7
Madam Sequoia
- 5m Redwood (GB) x Royal Governess (NZ) (Volksraad (GB))
Tnr: S & M Smith Rdr: T Jonker 55
6
4.0
Pullyoursocksup
- 6m Thewayyouare (USA) x Grace Park (NZ) (Danske (NZ))
Tnr: Andrew Carston Rdr: K Chowdhoory 55
7
4.1
Beneficial
- 7m Highly Recommended (AUS) x La Generose (NZ) (Generous (IRE))
Tnr: L R Beckett Rdr: A Comignaghi 55
8
6.4
Larpower
- 4m Power (GB) x Larrinka (NZ) (Volksraad (GB))
Tnr: L R Beckett Rdr: C K Kwo 55
9
6.8
Asathought
- 5m So You Think (NZ) x Asavant (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: Ms L Vaughan Rdr: C A Campbell 55
10
9.5
Savezar
- 5m Savabeel (AUS) x Ezra (NZ) (Iffraaj (GB))
Tnr: R C Dennis Rdr: K Mudhoo 55
11
9.6
Da Vinci Girl
- 4m Zacinto (GB) x Our Mona Lisa (AUS) (Desert Prince (IRE))
Tnr: M & M Pitman Rdr: W F Pinn 55
12
11.7
The Gift
- 4m Power (GB) x Trust (NZ) (Dehere (USA))
Tnr: R C Dennis Rdr: M Mudhoo 55
12
14.1
Neon Moon
- 4m Exosphere (AUS) x She's Slinky (NZ) (Handsome Ransom (AUS))
Tnr: J & K Parsons Rdr: R J Hannam 55
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