Tivaci 3YO impresses in Taupo debut
Highly rated three-year-old Sought After made the perfect start to his career at Taupo on Friday afternoon.
Raced by breeder Waikato Stud, the Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained son of Tivaci rounded off strongly to score over 1200 metres and put an end to a previously frustrating day for the Matamata nursery.
Earlier on the card, another debutante Smart Love had finished a close second while Sethito overcame a chequered run to finish third at the first time of asking.
Their stablemate Sought After made no mistake and came from back in the field with a strong finish to win comfortably by two lengths under Masa Hashizume.
His performance elevated him to the second line of favouritism at $8 for the G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas at Riccarton.
“He’s been thriving and had a trial and went well and came here for a gallop 10 days ago,” Scott said.
“He’s a really confident horse and we thought he would be a winning chance, he’s in really good order and paraded looking a million dollars.”
Sought After is out of the Savabeel mare Popular and the esteemed family of the late multiple Group 1 winner and successful sire Sacred Falls.
Popular produced a brother to Sought After last season and is due to foal to Ocean Park.
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Waikato Stud enjoyed a special moment on Oaks Day at Flemington on Thursday, when the New Zealand-bred gelding Sulek – by Super Seth out the O’Reilly mare Tiff And Co, saluted on one of the biggest days of the racing calendar and in front of an international crowd. Bred by the farm in partnership with the Dowager Duchess of Bedford, Sulek took out the A$500,000 Cirka Melbourne Cup Carnival Country Final (1600m) for the third and most lucrative win of his career.
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And so, another Melbourne Cup has been run. Regretfully, Mary and I were not there. I have no idea how many we attended up until COVID, and I miss the Cup week. Victoria prides itself as the sporting capital of Australia; it may be, they certainly know how to create an event.
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