Sensational Listed Victory For Unbeaten Ardrossan Filly

Having made her debut in September with an impressive four and three-quarter length victory over 800m, Johno Benner’s 2yo Ardrossan filly De Armas made her future intentions clear ahead of a tilt at the $1m TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) on January 24, pulling clear to win the Listed Counties Challenge Stakes (1100m) at Pukekhoe by a length and three quarters.

Jumping away well from the middle of the line under jockey Kelly Myers, De Armas went forward to sit outside the race leader With A Vengeance while race favourite Harvey Wallbanger had settled last of the nine runners.

As De Armas tackled the leader and pulled herself to the front in the home straight, the runs where starting to come from those back in the field, but the Ardrossan filly continued to pull away from the field and while the favourite came from well back for second, the winning margin of a length and a quarter was dominant as the line was reached.

Benner had made no secret of the fact he rated De Armas highly and went further in his opinion of her following the race.

“I think she is the best horse I have put a saddle on,” he said. “I’ve said it to a few people, but I’ve tried to put a lid on it.

“I think she is going to be a better three-year-old, but coming here today has given me the option not to have to come back up here again (until Karaka Millions night).

“She is a beautiful cut of a filly and I don’t want to sound silly, but I said over breakfast I think she will win today and I can put her away with 11 weeks to Ellerslie and I won’t need to run her again.”

Purchased by her trainer from the draft of Elsdon Park at the 2025 New Zealand Bloodstock National Online Yearling Sale, the JML Bloodstock bred filly cost connections just $16,000, an outstanding investment with the De Armas surpassing that figure in her two starts to date.

From the family of Hong Kong G1-winning sprinter All Thrills Too and leading New Zealand 2YO filly Crossyourheart, De Armas is one of two winners and the first at black type level out of her dam Rip Van Winkle dam Regal Winks.

With the race often a great kick off point to future G1 success with the last two winners Return To Conquer and Velocious both capturing the G1 Sistema Stakes just a few starts later, it would be of no surprise to see De Armas head that way after a tilt at the lucrative $1m Karaka Millions, a race won last season by Super Seth’s daughter La Dorada, who was subsequently crowned NZ Champion 2YO of the season.

One of seven individual stakes winners for Ardrossan, the next opportunity to secure a yearling by the son of Redoute’s Choice will be at the 2026 NZB National yearling sale with 29 lots catalogued in Book 1 and a further 24 lots in Book 2.