Kiwis Celebrate Spanish Whisper Victory

Media Release - Sunday March 10

Former New Zealand-trained filly Spanish Whisper made a stunning return to the winner's circle on Saturday when she overcame a wide run to take out the Group II Kewney Stakes (1400m) at Flemington.

Spanish Whisper - Grant Courtney imageThe Lope De Vega filly won two of her first four starts in New Zealand, including the Gr.2 Matamata Breeders' Stakes (1200m), for co-owners Darren Brady and Daniel and Elias Nakhle before they sold a controlling interest in her to clients of David Hayes' Lindsay Park stable in Victoria.

Hayes, who trains in partnership with his son Ben Hayes and nephew Tom Dabernig, had told Daniel Nakhle that he believed the filly had returned for this campaign in better shape than in her first Australian preparation last spring where her best result was a runner-up finish in the Listed Jim Moloney Stakes (1200m) behind recent Gr.1 Australian Guineas (1600m) winner Mystic Journey.

"She didn't get a lot of luck in the spring, where they seemed to want to ride her on the pace, which was against the pattern of how she performed best in New Zealand," Nakhle said.

"They gave her a good break and have adopted a more conservative approach to her racing style which looks to be paying dividends.

"She went a really good race for second first-up and that convinced me to get on a plane and come over for Saturday and I'm sure glad that I did.

"I am paying for the decision a little bit today though as I can hardly talk above a whisper as we were cheering her on pretty hard during the race and celebrating just as much afterwards."

Nakhle spent time on Sunday morning at the Lindsay Park operation where he reported that Spanish Whisper looked to have come through her exertions well and was looking forward to the next stage of her campaign.

"She was very bright this morning and all reports from the team are that she seems to have handled the race really well," he said.

"I think they are going to monitor her for a few days and then decide where she goes next. The two options they are looking at could be a run over 1600m at Moonee Valley in a fortnight or a trip up to Sydney for the Coolmore Legacy Stakes (Gr.1 1600m) next month."

Nakhle was quick to pay tribute to the staff of New Zealand Bloodstock who were instrumental in securing Spanish Whisper's dam, Cutting Remark for him and his partners.

"We got Cutting Remark from the Patinack Farm dispersal sale thanks to the guys at NZB," he said.

"They had taken a look at what was going through that sale and made some recommendations to us.

"We liked several of the ones they put up on the list and ended up getting two mares from the sale including Cutting Remark who was in-foal to Lope De Vega.

"Spanish Whisper was the resulting progeny so we wouldn't be here with her without that help that we got.

"We've had a Foxwedge colt out of her (Cutting Remark) along with a lovely Super Easy filly, so the win yesterday has really added some value to her sister even if she never makes it to the track."

The only disappointment for Nakhle is that Cutting Remark missed getting in foal to champion sire Savabeel this season.

"She missed to Savabeel which is a bit of a blow, but she can have 12 months off, and we will have another go next year." – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Kiwi Bred Grey Wins Subzero for OTI at Flemington
New Zealand-bred gelding Cloudland proved a handful for James McDonald at Flemington on Tuesday, but the champion jockey was in a forgiving mood after they had claimed top honours in the Subzero Handicap.
Knights Choice a True Underdog Story
Punters were left stunned when the Queenslander Knight's Choice and Japanese visitor Warp Speed (JPN) emerged from the pack to fight out a dramatic finish to the $8,560,000 Group 1 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington.
Rosemont and Partners Stakes Quinella on Cup Day
Written Tycoon posted his second new stakes-winner on Melbourne Cup Day when promising three year-old gelding Catoggio took out the Listed VRC Amanda Elliot Stakes (1400m)  for Rosemont Stud and partners, who also race the second horse Bosustow.
$6million Frankel Mare Tops Fasig -Tipton November Sale
The Fasig-Tipton November Sale, billed as the World’s Premier Breeding Stock Event, was held Monday at the company’s Newtown Paddocks in Lexington, Kentucky. Twenty-five offerings sold for $1,000,000 or more, led by a trio of Grade/Group 1 winners with international appeal.
Thumping Win for Lope De Vega's Gytrash in Creswick Stakes
The Gordon Richard’s trained Gytrash gave Australia another reason to regret the departure of Lope De Vega (IRE) following a brilliant performance in Saturday’s Listed Creswick Stakes (1200m) at Flemington.
Lope de Vega's Vega One Too Strong in MM Cup
Tony Gollan has his eyes firmly fixed on the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap for Vega One after the four-year-old son of Lope de Vega captured Saturday’s $1 million Magic Millions Cup (RL) at the Gold Coast.
2024 Melbourne Cup Result - It's Knights Choice
The 2024 Melbourne Cup has been run and won with Knight’s Choice, a five-year-old gelding by Extreme Choice victorious.
Kiwi Bred Gringotts Wins $3million Big Dance
Talented New Zealand-bred gelding Gringotts(NZ) (Per Incanto) delivered a big payday for his connections with victory in Tuesday’s A$3 million Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick.
More Stakes Success for Air Assault
Group I placed last season in the SA Derby, talented gelding Air Assault kept the winning run going for Victoria Derby winning trainer Andrew Gluyas when taking out the Listed SAJC John Letts Cup (1800m) at Morphettville on Melbourne Cup Day.
Lope De Vega's Spanish Whisper Strikes in Let's Elope
Seymour Bloodstock’s Spanish Whisper has the race performance and pedigree to grace any broodmare paddock in the land but that has been put on hold as she strives for that elusive Group 1 victory.