$10,000 Karaka Bargain 2YO Wins on Debut

Media Release - Thursday July 25

Graham Richardson and Rogan Norvall have plenty to look forward to with Social Climber after the promising filly debuted in winning fashion at Arawa Park on Wednesday. 

Social Climber made a decent impression at the trials four weeks ago and was set to make her first raceday appearance last Saturday before that was briefly delayed with the Rotorua meeting moved to Thursday.

Graham Richardson (centre) with connections of Social Climber after her win at Arawa Park on Thursday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)

One of four juveniles on debut in the Entain – NZB Insurance Pearl Series Race (1230m), Social Climber was assertive early under Jasmine Fawcett from the wide barrier and settled outside the leader in Serendipitous.

Cruising into the straight, the filly got on even terms with the pacemaker and soon kicked away, putting a three-length margin on the remainder of the field headed by race-favourite Suit Yourself, who had no favours in the running and closed gamely into second. 

Advertisement

“She was very impressive, she can gallop,” Richardson said.

“Jasmine had galloped her and she was pretty confident, even though it was a small field with a lot of unraced horses, so I was undecided as I didn’t know the rest of the form.”

With an abundance of options coming up for a rising three-year-old filly, Richardson is keeping an open mind as to where Social Climber will be seen next.

“She seems to have pulled up well, but we’ll have to wait and see over the next few weeks,” he said.

“There’s some nice three-year-old races around, such as the Wanganui Guineas (Listed, 1200m) and Gold Trail Stakes (Gr.3, 1200m) so we’ll see what’s around at the time.

“She’s going to be better with the cut in the ground, so she’s going to be a nice horse next autumn as a three-year-old.”

A daughter of Contributer, Social Climber was purchased for $10,000 out of Archer Park’s draft at the 2023 Karaka Yearling Sales by Richardson, who races the filly alongside the Social Racing Premier Social Climbers Syndicate.

“She was a very athletic filly as a yearling, but I didn’t want to put too much pressure on her as an early two-year-old,” he said.

The victory also brought up a significant milestone for the Matamata horseman, being his 800th domestic winner alongside 48 successes in Australia. Of his Kiwi haul, 55 have been Group or Listed winners, including the Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m) with Bonny Lass and the Gr.3 Easter Handicap (1600m) with Snazzytavi this term.

“I’m pretty chuffed about that too, I’ve been very fortunate with some good horses,” Richardson said.

“There have been lots of highs, Defibrillate winning a Group One was a big thrill for me because I had my close mates in the horse, and I bred him with the McInteers.”

Since going into partnership with Rogan Norvall in August of 2020, the pair have accumulated 69 winners and 11 at stakes level. LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Visit the profile page for Contributer

Contributer in upcoming sales:
Advertisment

Race Result - Entain-NZB Insurance Pearl Series 2yo 1230m

Arawa Park Track: Heavy(10) Time: 1:17.65
1
Social Climber
- 2f Contributer (IRE) x Hang Seng (NZ) (Black Minnaloushe (USA))
Tnr: G Richardson & R Norvall Rdr: J J Fawcett 55
2
3
Suit Yourself
- 2c Savile Row (NZ) x O'carol (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle (IRE))
Tnr: M Moroney & P Gerard Rdr: N S Parmar 56
3
3.8
Serendipitous
- 2f Darci Brahma (NZ) x Run To The Bank (NZ) (Bahhare (USA))
Tnr: S B Marsh Rdr: C R Barnes 55
4
5.6
Let's Dance
- 2c Preferment (NZ) x Happy Feet (AUS) (Sepoy (AUS))
Tnr: M Moroney & P Gerard Rdr: C J Grylls 57
5
9.1
Great Adventure
- 2g Ferrando (NZ) x Bonny Mae (NZ) (Falkirk (NZ))
Tnr: Team Rogerson Rdr: B D Rogerson 55
6
9.6
So Excited
- 2f Ferrando (NZ) x Aleta (NZ) (Duelled (AUS))
Tnr: Team Rogerson Rdr: S C Spratt 55
7
16.2
Laser Beam
- 2c Complacent (AUS) x Legsalicious (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: L Te Keeti Rdr: Jessica Allen 54
More Reading...
Te Akau Chasing Another Cup Day Success
Last year’s Melbourne Cup Day concluded in success for Mark Walker in the Gr.3 Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes (1400m), a race he will chase back-to-back crowns in on Tuesday with Kiwi mare Quintessa.
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.
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.
Will it be a fairytale finish for Tasmanian-bred mare The Map?
Fresh from sweeping the sire awards at the 2024 Tasmanian Racing Awards this season, the Armidale Stud team is in line for another significant achievement with The Map (Alpine Eagle x This Moment) flying the flag for resident stallion Alpine Eagle in the 2024 Lexus Melbourne Cup on Tuesday 5 November.
Zoustar 6YO Stepping up to 2000m
Pre-post favourite Habana will head into unfamiliar territory at Ellerslie, but there is confidence in his camp that it will be a smooth transition.
Kiwi Grey Targets Subzero on Cup Day
The Subzero Handicap (1400m), a race solely for registered grey thoroughbreds, has proven to be a fan favourite at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day, and this year, Kiwis will have their own grey to barrack for.
Melbourne Cup Tips – Tara Talks Racing
Tara Talks Racing is now online having had a Sunday arvo drink or two as we go through the Cup horses, so what do Clocker and I like for this year’s Melbourne Cup?
Bellatrix Star May Back Up in G1 Champions Sprint
Te Akau and Fortuna Racing’s filly Bellatrix Star proved she is among Australia’s top sprinting three-year-olds last Saturday at Flemington, finishing second in the A$2 million Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m).
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.
Kiwi Longshot Hope for Cup
Grant Cooksley came tantalisingly close to getting his hands on the Melbourne Cup as a jockey, and he is hoping to rectify that on Tuesday as a trainer when he lines-up Trust In You in the two-mile feature.