Defibrillate a Group Winner on Both Sides of Tasman

Media Release - Tuesday November 1

Defibrillate is very much a stable favourite of Graham Richardson and he provided his co-breeder, part-owner and co-trainer with a hugely satisfying victory at Pukekohe Park on Tuesday.

 

The son of Shocking added to his record with a second-up success in the Gr.3 Balmerino Stakes (2050m) to become a black-type winner on both sides of the Tasman.Defibrillate winning the Gr.3 Balmerino Stakes (2050m) at Pukekohe on Tuesday. Photo: Trish Dunell

The sprightly eight-year-old has an impressive strike rate of 11 wins from 29 appearances and his will to win was well-emphasised with a hard-fought victory over The Mayor, also a former Australian black-type performer.

“That was an absolute thrill and well done to all my partners in the horse and the staff,” said Richardson, who trains in partnership with Rogan Norvall.

Defibrillate had settled back of midfield and one off the fence before rider Craig Grylls urged him forward 800m from home. After angling widest on the home turn, he produced a determined finish as he went out after tearaway leader Quiz Kid, who eventually faded to ninth.

Advertisement

The Michael Moroney and Pam Gerard-trained The Mayor was a close second and his first show of form since relocating from Chris Waller’s stable with Demonetization taking third money.

Defibrillate will remain on a weight-for-age path in the immediate future with two attractive options on his radar.

“There’s the Zabeel Classic (Gr.1, 2000m) and the Herbie Dyke Stakes (Gr.1, 2000m), there are plenty of races around for him,” Richardson said.

Defibrillate was bred by his co-trainer with the McInteer family, who also share in the ownership group, and won two of his first three starts from Richardson’s stable before he joined Patrick Payne’s operation in Victoria where he did his connections proud.

He was twice successful in the Listed Mornington Cup Prelude (2000m) and in the Listed Lord Stakes (1700m) before the red carpet was rolled out on his return to Matamata earlier this year.

Richardson subsequently targeted the Hawke’s Bay spring carnival with Defibrillate and principally the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m).

However, his plans were severely disrupted by the weather-enforced abandonment of the middle day at Hastings and the rescheduling of the Gr.1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m) to Matamata.

Richardson was loath to run the gelding twice in seven days so made the bold decision to pitch Defibrillate first-up into the Livamol off a five-month break and he responded with a bold effort for third.

“I hadn’t done a lot with him since Hastings, just a bit of three-quarter pace. He had been off his tucker a little bit, but he came right in the last few days and I was pretty happy with him,” Richardson said.

Meanwhile, apprentice Niranjan Parmar bit the hand that feeds when he posted his first stakes win aboard Seajetz, who finished powerfully to claim top honours in the Listed Karaka Classic (1500m).

Parmar is apprenticed to Mark Walker, whose representative Self Obsession finished a close second with Awapuni visitor Old Town Road boxing on well for third after racing on the pace.

Trained by Paul Richards, Seajetz had won his previous start in Rating 75 company at Matamata and bridged the gap to stakes company in style.

The son of Iffraaj settled toward the back in the field and wound up strongly to down the favourite Self Obsession, who also rounded off well in the straight. – NZ Racing Desk

 

Advertisment
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Sunday November 3
Here is the full list of 59 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Sires With Winners - Monday November 4
Here is the full list of 21 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Cup Day Stakes-Winner for So You Think
The Listed VRC TAB Trophy (1800m) for three year-olds on Cup Day at Flemington drew a competitive field of up and comers with So You Think gelding Opening Address stamping himself as a bright prospect for the future with a stylish victory.
Tycoon Star Makes Winning Debut in G3 Maribyrnong Plate
Tycoon Star looked like the consummate professional when making a winning career debut in the Group III Darley Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) to kickstart Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington.
Coolmore Set Justify Fee for 2025
Coolmore have announced the US fee for Justify in 2025 with the undefeated Triple Crown winner priced at $US250,000 to head  their roster of 16 stallions at Ashford Stud in Kentucky.
Sires With Winners - Saturday November 2
Here is the full list of 137 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Antrim Coast to Fly Flag for The Oaks Stud
The well-renowned colours of The Oaks Stud will feature across two feature Trans-Tasman meetings this week, kicking off with Antrim Coast lining up in the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) on Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington.
Magic Nick Strikes Again – Fastnet Rock x Galileo
The Fastnet Rock x Galileo nick has been on fire in Melbourne this spring producing Cox Plate winner Via Sistina (IRE) and leading Melbourne Cup contender Buckaroo (GB) and it struck again overnight in the UK with a brand new stakes-winner in Military Academy, who captured the Listed Floodlit Stakes (1m4f) at Kempton.
2YOs at Flemington - G3 Maribyrnong Plate Sale Mail
Juvenile racing will kick off Melbourne Cup day on Tuesday with an early start at 10.45am for the Group III VRC Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) with nine colts and four fillies engaged.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Rosehill
Two heats at the Rosehill trials on Monday morning over 900m and the quickest of those was won by an expensive son of Golden Slipper winning first season sire Farnan.