Verona Strikes for the Fillies in Packer Plate

Mark Smith - Saturday April 16

The lone filly in the field, the former New Zealander Verona did best in a slogging finish in the Group III Frank Packer Plate (2000m) at Randwick.

Verona stays on strongly (image Steve Hart)

Ridden by Willie Pike for Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, the daughter of Belardo (IRE), rode close to the speed and kept on strongly to defeat the pacesetting Maurice's Medad (Maurice) by one and a half lengths, with the favourite Straight Arron (Fastnet Rock) a long head back in third.

A winner on debut for Jenna Mahoney, Verona had five starts in New Zealand and was being set for the NZ Oaks before clients of Ciaron Maher and David Eustace made an offer.

She finished a troubled fifth on her Australian debut on March 23.

Stable representative Johann Gerard- Dubord said the filly has her quirks.

"There is plenty of improvement in her. She was still very new in the run, and a bit shy around horses," Gerard- Dubord said.

&quo

Advertisement
t;Obviously, the step-up in trip too was always going to be a big plus. She had a lovely run, it was good.

"She was well bought. The Boxall family are involved, it's their colours, so it's good to get a win for them.

"She probably go to (Queensland) now. Top of the ground is no issue for her. She gets through the wet but top of the ground will be just as good. Her first run was good. She was still very new behind horses.

Verona an $8,000 Karaka yearling

"We knew there was plenty of improvement but probably not that much improvement, so that was good. She raced end of January and landed here about 10 days after the Karaka Millions. She has been here for a while. She spent a bit of time at the beach. We have taken our time with her."

Cypress Point Farms paid just $8,000 to secure the daughter of Belardo (IRE) from the Haunui Farm draft from Book 3 of the 2020 NZ Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale.

She is the best of three winners from four to race out of the Stravinsky (USA) mare Spamalot.

A filly by US Navy Flag (USA) out of Spamalot failed to make her $80,000 from Book 2 of the Karka Yearling Sale.

Verona becomes the seventh stakes-winner for Haunui Farm shuttler Belardo (Lope de Vega) and is his second in the Southern Hemisphere..   

 

Advertisment

Race Result - Frank Packer Plate Gr3 2000m

Randwick Track: Heavy(8) Time: 2:09.59
1
Verona
- 3f Belardo (IRE) x Spamalot (NZ) (Stravinsky (USA))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: W Pike 54.5
2
1.5
Maurice's Medad
- 3g Maurice (JPN) x Presslist (AUS) (Librettist (USA))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: J Parr 56.5
3
1.7
Straight Arron
- 3g Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Imperial Lass (NZ) (Tavistock (NZ))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J B Mc Donald 56.5
Fastnet Rock
4
4.9
Paternal
- 3g Savabeel (AUS) x O'Dianne (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J Bowman 56.5
5
5.6
Arnaqueur
- 3g Astern (AUS) x Aloona (USA) (Smart Strike (CAN))
Tnr: Jean Dubois Rdr: A B Collett 56.5
6
6.2
Jalmari
- 3g The Brothers War (USA) x Boolgatta Lass (AUS) (Vice Admiral (IRE))
Tnr: D A Williams Rdr: Tommy Berry 56.5
7
6.5
Raging Bull
- 3g Bull Point (AUS) x Sunday Sinners (AUS) (Danbird (AUS))
Tnr: David Payne Rdr: S Clipperton 56.5
8
6.9
Devil Racer
- 3g Artie Schiller (USA) x Devil Miss (AUS) (Dane Shadow (AUS))
Tnr: Brad Widdup Rdr: Damian Lane 56.5
9
7.0
Bon Vivant
- 3g Golden Horn (GB) x Good Friend (IRE) (Shamardal (USA))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: N Rawiller 56.5
10
10.6
War Eternal
- 3c Pierro (AUS) x Aleria (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: Tim Clark 56.5
11
12.5
Field Legend
- 3c Snitzel (AUS) x Azmiyna (IRE) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: K Mc Evoy 56.5
12
16.7
Lukey Luke
- 3g Denman (AUS) x Somethin' Leicajem (AUS) (Nothin' Leica Dane (AUS))
Tnr: Ms G Markwell Rdr: K S Latham 56.5
13
38.9
Inverell
- 3g Shocking (AUS) x Sapphire Lass (AUS) (Charge Forward (AUS))
Tnr: Clayton Douglas Rdr: M Zahra 56.5
More Reading...
Ka Ying Rising connection draws Hayes team to Shamexpress at Karaka
With one of the world’s most exciting sprinters flying the flag for David Hayes in Hong Kong, it has been no surprise to see the trainer’s sons zeroing in on progeny of Windsor Park Stud stallion Shamexpress during the Ready to Run Sale at Karaka this week.
Castelvecchio Out for Remainder of Season
Aeliana’s late charge into second place in the $1.5million Group I MRC Thousand Guineas last Saturday stamped her as the filly to follow out of the race, but it wasn’t quite enough to put her sire Castelvecchio to the top of the second season sires list and he is now out of service at Arrowfield following surgery last week.
Vale, Danny Champion
The thoroughbred racing industry is in mourning following the passing of respected horseman Danny Champion.
Arkansaw Kid Brother Sells for $520,000
A well-related son of Harry Angel provided a late highlight in the final hour of the 2024 NZB Ready to Run Sale at Karaka on Thursday when he was knocked down to a $520,000 bid from bloodstock agent Morgan Carter.
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.
Churchill Colt Pulls Off Stunning Pinhooking Result at NZB Ready To Run
Chad Ormsby has enjoyed plenty of racetrack success this year with pinhooks that he has been unable to sell at the Ready to Run Sale, but the multi-talented horseman had a very different outcome with the standout member of his 2024 Riverrock Farm draft at Karaka on Thursday.
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Castelvecchio has gone from nowhere to somewhere during the course of this spring with three stakes-winners putting his name in lights and he had a promising three year-old colt salute at Hawkesbury on Thursday that has now won two of three starts.
Blockbuster Sale as NZB Ready to Run Records Tumble
Expectations were exceeded at Karaka with tremendous results witnessed across two days of selling at NZB’S 2024 Ready to Run Sale, confirming the demand for proven racetrack results and quality New Zealand-prepared horses.
Kiwi Stayer Verona Wins at Rosehill
New Zealand-bred mare Verona turned her form around in emphatic style at Rosehill on Saturday, charging home from last to score a runaway win in the A$160,000 Schweppes Handicap (2400m).
Million-dollar Hour for Leung at NZB Ready To Run
Hong Kong bloodstock agent Willie Leung had a big hour at Karaka early on Thursday afternoon, spending more than $1 million to secure two well-credentialled colts at the NZB Ready to Run Sale.