Niagara Filly Wins Warstep Stakes

Media Release - Saturday April 13

Classy three-year-old Beyond The Fort franked her gritty runner-up effort in the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) last month with a comprehensive victory in Saturday's Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Warstep Stakes (2000m) at Riccarton.

Beyond the Fort - Race ImagesThe Bill Thurlow-trained Niagara filly won her first two starts before tackling Group One company in the Oaks where she pushed eventual winner, Sentimental Miss to the wire.

Thurlow was happy to trek her south from his Waverley base for Saturday's contest after the filly came through her Oaks run in fine fettle. That decision paid off in spades as rider Dylan Turner produced a gem of an effort to save ground against the rail throughout before angling wide for better going in the home straight.

Fellow northern raiders Mohaka and Miss Valencia looked set to fight out the finish at that stage but had to bow to the superior staying skills of the winner who burst to the front at the 100m before easing clear for a two-length victory.

Thurlow nearly missed the race thanks to the vagaries of the Sydney traffic as he made his way to Randwick with stable star Glory Days, who was set to contest the Gr.1 Sydney Cup (3200m) later in the day.

"We were stuck in the Sydney traffic rattling around in the back of a horse truck when the race was on at Riccarton," Thurlow said.

"Thankfully I had my wife with me, and we managed to watch the race on her phone. The vision wasn't that great but the cars around us could probably have heard us cheering as they came down the straight.

"She has the makings of a really good stayer this filly (Beyond The Fort) and she did a great job to win this one.

"I couldn't really make out just what happened, but Dylan managed to save a heap of ground and then got her out wide which was what I had asked him to do.

"I knew she was probably the best stayer in that line-up and that was how it panned out."

Thurlow will wait until he gets home from Sydney next week before deciding on where to next for his charge but hasn't ruled out a trip across the Tasman if she comes through this race well.

"We had been thinking of the South Australian Oaks (Gr.1 2400m) for her as long as she comes through this one well," he said.

"There is also Queensland to consider but until I get back and see how she is I can't really say what we will be doing with her." – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Promising 3YO Picture Perfect
Xbox cut the prettiest of pictures on Wednesday for equine photographer Trish Dunell.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Storm Boy Headed to Ireland
Coolmore have today announced via Twitter that top class Justify (USA) colt Storm Boy will be continuing his racing career in Ireland in 2025 under the care of Aidan O’Brien.
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.
Xbox Another Stakes Success for NZB Ready to Run
Having previously won over 1100 and 1500 metres, classy three-year-old Xbox(NZ) (Niagara) passed his first stamina test with flying colours in Tuesday’s $100,000 Group 2 Warren Storm Lifebrokers Waikato Guineas (2000m) at Te Rapa.
Niagara Winner Impresses on Friday
Riccarton trainers Daniel Champion and Kezia Murphy have unearthed yet another bargain buy off gavelhouse.com, with Niagara gelding Panzer running away to a dominant victory at their home track on Friday.
Group Two Guineas Winner for Niagara
Graeme Richardson went to Te Rapa looking for an answer from Xbox and the talented three-year-old gave him an emphatic reply.