Paisley Park takes out Matamata Cup

Media Release - Saturday October 8

Local runner Paisley Park showed he had taken plenty of improvement from his first-up performance at Te Rapa last month when he came with a withering late burst to score in the Listed Team Wealleans Matamata Cup (1600m).

The Graham Richardson and Rogan Norvall-trained eight-year-old had given plenty of cheek over 1200m in his campaign opener before weakening late in the piece and stripped in better nick for his home track feature.

Paisley Park parades after his Matamata victory Photo credit: Trish Dunell

A well-judged ride by Wiremu Pinn, who had already completed a winning double aboard Pennsylvania and The Intimidator earlier in the day, saw Paisley Park settle back near last in the early rush for positions before improving into a striking position approaching the home bend.

Pinn got every inch out of the son of Azamour in the final 100m as he dropped on White Noise and Markus Aurelius to win by a head with the judge unable to separate the other two who dead-heated for second.

Advertisement

Richardson had been quietly confident of a good performance by his charge and was thrilled to get the victory, his third in the race after success with Platonic (2001) and Atom Cat (2010).

“He was the big improver in the stable and I got it right for a change,” he said.

“We had a bit of a setback with him a couple of months ago when he copped a virus and that put us on the back foot.

“We tipped him out then brought him back and he went a nice race at Te Rapa first-up over 1200m, but it was a big effort to do what he did today.

“It’s the third time I’ve won this race so I’m absolutely stoked.”

Richardson will now wait to see how his charge recovers before deciding on future assignments.

“We were really just targeting today,” he said.

“I’ll wait to see how he pulls up and then we will look at making a plan with him.”

Pinn was also thrilled to get the win on one of his favourite mounts.

“He has been a very good horse to me as I’ve won three on him now,” Pinn said.

“He’s very versatile as last time over 1200m it was a huge effort and with the extra ground today on his home track, he has won very well.

“He jumped out nicely but I was grateful there was some pace on even though he had to do a bit of work to get around them.

“He really hit the line well, so it was a good effort.”

Raced by his breeder Garry Christini and good mate Dave Trubshoe, Paisley Park has now won eight races and over $271,000 in prizemoney.

Richardson was also delighted with Derryn gelding Channel Surfer who showed plenty of fight to finish third in the Gr.2 AHD Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) one race earlier and advised the horse would be kept to future age-group races with an eye on the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) in March as the ultimate target. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
No Compromise Still Going Strong in NZ
Bill Thurlow couldn’t have hoped for a better week at the New Zealand Cup carnival and is optimistic a more senior member of the team can add a northern feature to the stable’s tally this Saturday.
Sires With Winners - Thursday November 21
Here is the full list of 32 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
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.
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.
Tavistock Mare Chasing G1
Last start Gr.3 Thompson Handicap (1600m) winner Town Cryer has another Trentham feature in her sights, taking the next step towards the Gr.1 TAB Mufhasa Classic (1600m) at the Foxton trials on Tuesday.
Express Yourself Returns to NZ
Group One performer Express Yourself has returned home from her spring campaign in Melbourne and is now on a path towards the Gr.1 TAB Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham on January 4.
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.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday November 19
Here is the full list of 28 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
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.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday November 20
Here is the full list of 39 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.