G2 Winner Impendabelle - First Stakes-Winner for Impending

Tara Madgwick - Saturday December 3

A dual Group I winning son of Lonhro, Impending is on the board with his first stakes-winner thanks to his exciting Kiwi-trained two year-old filly Impendabelle, winner of the Group II Mode Technology Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m).

Impendabelle gets down to business as she takes out the Gr.2 Mode Technology Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m) Photo: Race Images – Peter Rubery

Impendabelle gets down to business as she takes out the Gr.2 Mode Technology Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m) Photo: Race Images – Peter Rubery

Despite a few moments of concern when placed in tight quarters at the top of the Trentham home straight, rugged filly Impendabelle maintained her unbeaten record with a dogged performance .

The Tony Pike-trained filly had been an impressive first up winner at the venue back in October and went in to her first black type challenge on Saturday as a warm $2 favourite.

Her backers had plenty of reasons to worry however, as after beginning well, she drifted towards the rear of the eight-horse field, with rider Michael McNab searching for daylight entering the home straight as he found himself caught in traffic at a vital stage of the contest.

Angled into a tight gap, the daughter of Impending showed her mental toughness as she burst between runners to hit the front at the 200m before drawing away from runner-up Believe In Magic in the closing stages.

McNab admitted he wasn’t overly worried with the spot he found himself in when the pressure went into the race as he had faith in his mount’s ability to find her way through the pack.

“I got away clean enough but then they went quite quick so I thought I’d get some cover,” he said.

&ldq

Advertisement
uo;I ended up back but I was happy with the horse I was following who I knew would take me far enough into the race.

“The best thing about it was she burst through the tight run and when she balanced, she really sprinted and put them away.

“It may have even been too easy as she was all over the show, but only handy horses can do that as she was super.”

McNab’s father Chris was representing the Pike stable at the meeting and shared his son’s feelings on the way the race unfolded.

“It was a bit surprising she got crossed at the start, but we were on the back of the right horse and she is a good, tough filly,” McNab said.

“They don’t come too much better than this one.

“She wasn’t going to win by much at the 200m, but the closer they got to the line the further she got in front.”

The victory takes Impendabelle to the top of the qualifying table for the $1 million Doubletree by Hilton Karaka Million (1200m) which will be run at Pukekohe on January 21.

Impendabelle was an $80,000 Karaka Book 1 purchase.

Impendabelle was an $80,000 Karaka Book 1 purchase.

Bred by the Smithies family under their Monovale Holdings banner, Impendabelle was an $80,000 purchase out of the Hallmark Stud draft during the Book 1 session at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale at Karaka back in March.

She is a half-sister to Group III winner Cloudy and is the second stakes-winner from stakes-winning Exceed and Excel mare Applegate , who was purchased in foal to Impending  for $60,000 from the Godolphin draft at the 2020 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale by Andrew Williams Bloodstock. 

A half-sister by So You Think to Impendabelle will be offered as Lot 36 during the Book 1 sale at Karaka commencing on January 29 next month.

With his oldest progeny just three year-olds, Impending stands at a fee of $22,000 at Darley Victoria.

Advertisment

Race Result - Mode Tech. Wakefield Challenge Gr2 1100m

Trentham Track: Dead(6) Time: 1:05.71
1
Impendabelle
- 2f Impending (AUS) x Applegate (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: A W Pike Rdr: M J Mc Nab 55
2
0.8
Believe In Magic
- 2f Not A Single Doubt (AUS) x Perform A Miracle (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: M W Walker Rdr: C J Grylls 55
3
3.3
Dapper
- 2c Shooting To Win (AUS) x Brianna (NZ) (Sudurka (AUS))
Tnr: J Benner & H Wynyard Rdr: C E Lammas 57
4
4.6
Orgullo
- 2f Pride Of Dubai (AUS) x World Of Gold (IRE) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: C R Isdale Rdr: Joe Doyle 55
5
4.9
Bella Ragazza
- 2f Tivaci (AUS) x Ramazzotti (NZ) (Per Incanto (USA))
Tnr: Andrew Forsman Rdr: M J Dee 55
6
5.0
Platinum Designs
- 2c U S Navy Flag (USA) x The Tailors Niece (NZ) (Showcasing (GB))
Tnr: Ms L Latta Rdr: J K Riddell 57
7
5.5
Langmore
- 2f Almanzor (FR) x Ruthless Lady (NZ) (Keeper (AUS))
Tnr: J G Bary Rdr: L J Allpress 55
8
6.0
Bodacious Kate
- 2f Derryn (AUS) x Astrid (NZ) (Pins (AUS))
Tnr: A C Baker Rdr: M Mudhoo 55
More Reading...
Juvenile Trial Watch – Randwick
There were four heats for juveniles at Randwick on Monday including a couple of interesting winners, one unraced by Too Darn Hot (GB) and one bred on a nick that works for Tricolours Thoroughbreds, plus a commanding trial winner at Hawkesbury by first season sire Anders.
Golden Slipper Order of Entry – The Path from Here
The order of entry for the Golden Slipper got a good shake up last weekend with two colts zooming straight to the top of the list in Beiwacht who is exempt from ballot and Devil Night, who won the $2million Group I MRC Blue Diamond Stakes.
Tasmanian Yearling Sale Nicks and Links
The Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale is on Monday so here’s some of the hot nicks and links you’ll need.
Sires With Winners - Sunday February 23
Here is the full list of 73 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Three Fillies Share Top Honours at MM Tasmania
The three top sellers all sold for $80,000 with local buyers competing with those from interstate and overseas to secure the next generation of racetrack stars from the Apple Isle.
G1 Pedigree Watch – Helen Street Making Her Presence Felt
We saw two brand new Group I winners in Australia on Saturday and both super interesting on the pedigree front with one of them a $1.4million yearling and the other a Kiwi bred sprinter, who continued the G1 winning run for the Street Cry sireline and we also take a look at why you need to know more about Helen Street.
One to Watch – Grafton
Kooringal Stud’s bargain blueblood sire Sandbar has been the most searched stallion on Breednet this year through hypothetical matings and that’s thanks to his unbeaten super exciting 2YO Shaggy and at Grafton on Monday he produced another scintillating debut winner.
Catalogue Updates From Weekend Stakes Racing
There have been some solid updates to yearling sale catalogues over the weekend from stakes racing including a filly at MM Adelaide that is now a half to a stakes winner, and the very promising West Of Swindon’s half-sister at Inglis Easter.
Bellatrix Star Half-Brother Headlines Newhaven Park Premier Draft
Owned and run by the Kelly family, Newhaven Park is one of those prolific stakes producing vendors that yearling buyers gravitate towards and there is never a long wait for the next stakes-winner to come along from their Boorowa based farm.
One to Watch – Kembla
Promising debut winner at Kembla on Tuesday in the Emirates Park colours is Justify (USA) filly Amreekiyah, who has a half-sister by Home Affairs to be offered at Inglis Easter.