Pendragon Wins G2 Auckland Guineas - Half-Brother for K2

Media Release - Tuesday December 26

Enigmatic three-year-old Pendragon demonstrated just how tough he is as he took out the Gr.2 Shaw’s Wire Ropes Auckland Guineas (1400m) at Pukekohe with a strong front-running performance.

Pendragon winning the Gr.2 Auckland Guineas (1400m) at Pukekohe on Boxing Day. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)

The Mike Moroney and Pam Gerard-trained son of U S Navy Flag was ignored by punters to start at the juicy odds of $26 in the race, despite having beaten two of his more fancied rivals in Tokyo Tycoon ($3.60) and Quintessa ($4.80) by nearly two lengths at his previous start over 1200m at Te Rapa.

Seeking a hat-trick of victories after breaking maidens at Te Aroha in late November, regular rider Niranjan Parmar adopted familiar tactics as Pendragon began well and dictated terms throughout.

Rounding the home bend the pair drifted to the middle of the track in search of better footing on the Soft5 rated surface, but in doing so Pendragon began to race erratically as he was challenged by Quintessa on his inner and Tossuforit and Luberon further out.

Advertisement

Parmar used all his skill to keep his mount on a straight course as Pendragon fought like a tiger to down Quintessa by a long head with two lengths back to Luberon who shaded Tossuforit for third.

“He has been good right from the word go although he probably needed gelding as a two-year-old,” Gerard said.

“When they jump and lead like that I’m always nervous but he got there very easily today.

“He has run around a little bit in the straight but hats off to Parmar as he gets on really well with him.

“He did it to them last week and credit to the horse as he has gone under the radar a little bit.

“He is just a gorgeous horse to look at, he is flying and he deserves it.”

Gerard confirmed the horse would now head to the $1.5million TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) at Ellerslie on 27 January where he sits at $10 in the TAB Fixed Odds market.

“We have been heading to the mile as we buy these horses at the sales (Karaka) and we want to get them to the $1million races,” she said.

“He has stepped up from 1200m and now we will see if he can step up to the mile where we will put him in and find out.”

Purchased for $110,000 by Paul Moroney Bloodstock and Ballymore Stables from the Valachi Downs Book 2 draft at Karaka in 2022, Pendragon hails from an extended family that features a number of European stakes winners including Gr.1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (2400m) winner Solemia.

He has now won three of his six starts and more than $182,000 in prizemoney.

He becomes the first Group winner and fourth individual stakes winner for The Oaks Stud stallion U S Navy Flag who will have 16 individuals on offer during the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale at Karaka next month including a half-brother to Pendragon by Time Test as Lot 790 from the Leanach Lodge draft during the Book 2 session. - LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment

Race Result - Shaw's Wire Ropes Auckland Guineas Gr2 1400m

Pukekohe Park Track: Soft(5) Time: 1:23.00
1
Pendragon
- 3g U S Navy Flag (USA) x Kerre (IRE) (Pour Moi (IRE))
Tnr: M Moroney & P Gerard Rdr: N S Parmar 57
2
0.2
Quintessa
- 3f Shamus Award (AUS) x Chaquinta (NZ) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson Rdr: M J Mc Nab 55
3
2.7
Luberon
- 3f Embellish (NZ) x Elegant Achiever (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: L R Noble Rdr: V A Colgan 55
NZB Karaka Book 1 $80,000
Seller: Cambridge Stud
Buyer: Mr DC Ellis CNZM (BAFNZ)
4
2.9
Tossuforit
- 3f Zoustar (AUS) x Adorabeel (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: S B Marsh Rdr: S C Spratt 55
5
3.7
Just As Sharp
- 3g Swiss Ace (AUS) x Readyor (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: Team Rogerson Rdr: R T Elliot 57
6
3.8
Zabmanzor
- 3c Almanzor (FR) x Zaborei (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: R James & R Wellwood Rdr: M Hashizume 57
7
5.1
Impendabelle
- 3f Impending (AUS) x Applegate (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: A W Pike Rdr: K Asano 55
8
6.2
December
- 3g Shamexpress (NZ) x Miss Montjeu (NZ) (Montjeu (IRE))
Tnr: R James & R Wellwood Rdr: C J Grylls 57
9
6.4
Sinhaman
- 3g Tivaci (AUS) x Shellac (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: S B Marsh Rdr: S R Weatherley 57
10
10.3
Monday Melody
- 3c Snitzel (AUS) x Flora De Mariposa (AUS) (Frankel (GB))
Tnr: L O'Sullivan & A Scott Rdr: Joe Doyle 57
11
11.8
Tokyo Tycoon
- 3g Satono Aladdin (JPN) x All About The Coin (AUS) (Starcraft (NZ))
Tnr: Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson Rdr: O P Bosson 57
More Reading...
Vale, Danny Champion
The thoroughbred racing industry is in mourning following the passing of respected horseman Danny Champion.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.