Start Wondering (NZ) (Eighth Wonder {NZ}) gained his second Group 1 victory in the NZ$200,000 G1 Waikato Sprint for owner Steve Gudsell and trainer Evan Rayner at Te Rapa Saturday. The 4-1 shot wore down Natuzzi (NZ) (Coats Choice {Aus}) in the dying strides to take the 1400-metre event by a head, with the same margin back to Saracino (NZ) (Per Incanto). Favored Kawi (NZ) (Savabeel {Aus}), who was returning to his native land after a winless Australian campaign showed some late interest to take fifth.
“He's a very good horse and it was another very good ride,” Rayner told www.nzracing.co.nz. “I trained his uncle nearly 50 years ago.”
Start Wondering settled in a tracking fourth while saving ground in the wake of Saracino, who jumped out to an early lead, with Te Akau colorbearer Heroic Valour (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {As}) pressing about a length behind. Positions stayed largely unchanged until inside the final quarter mile, with Start Wondering driving through a gap between Heroic Valour and Saracino on the fence. He had Saracino's measure to win on the line, but a strong closing effort from Natuzzi on the outside relegated Saracino back to third, with a half-length back to Heroic Valour in fourth.
“We had a good barrier and I just wanted to get him out and going,” said hoop Johnathan Parkes, whose day improved after a fourth-place run aboard the formerly unbeaten Volpe Veloce (Aus) (Foxwedge {Aus}) in the 2000-metre G2 Cambridge Stud Sir Tristram Fillies' Classic. “It couldn't have worked out any better when we got the split at the top of the straight. He just goes out and gives his all and he's won nicely again.”
Start Wondering has been steadily improving all season since returning from Australia, taking the 1200-metre Listed Legacy Lodge Sprint over this strip Nov. 5 before the lone blip, with a ninth in the Listed Chainey's Panasonic Levin S. after failing to handle the slow going Nov. 25. He garnered his first Group 1 title in his initial attempt, taking the G1 Railway S. at Ellerslie on New Year's Day and was just touched off when runner-up to Signify (NZ) (Perfectly Ready {NZ}) in the G1 J R & N Berkett Telegraph going 1200 metres at Trentham in his final appearance prior to the Sprint.
Pedigree Notes…
The first stakes winner and Group 1 winner for Eighth Wonder, himself a full-brother to G1 AJC Derby hero Don Eduardo (NZ) and MGSW Peruzzi (NZ) and a half-brother to New Zealand champion 2-year-old Tristalove (NZ) (Sir Tristram {Ire}) and MSW & MGSP Antwerp (NZ) (Sir Tristram {Ire}), Start Wondering is the first produce out of Roseanbar (NZ). A winner twice over 1400 metres during her racing days, she is a half-sister to G1 New Zealand Derby bridesmaid Corporal Jones (NZ) (Pentire {GB}). This is also the family of Kiwi GSW Assessed (NZ) (Alcimedes {GB}) and Joyita (NZ) (Alvaro {GB}), who was MG1SP across the Tasman. Start Wondering has a full-sister foaled in 2014. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. @HLAndersonTDN
Saturday, Te Rapa, New Zealand
WAIKATO SPRINT-G1, NZ$200,000 (US$144,020/£115,331/€135,360), Waikato RC, 2-11, Open, WFA, 1400mT, 1:21.22, gd.
1–START WONDERING, 59.0, g, 6, by Eighth Wonder
1st Dam: Roseanbar, by Al Akbar (Aus)
2nd Dam: Assesarose, by Conquistarose (USA)
3rd Dam: Assessable, by Wolverton (Ire)
O-Mrs J M & S B Gudsell; B-I G Hadfield, Central, NZ; T-E & J
Rayner; J-J Parkes; NZ$125,000. Lifetime Record: 18-10-3-1,
A$503,318. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for
the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Natuzzi, 59.0, g, 8, Coats Choice (Aus)–Monsanto, by
Kilimanjaro (GB). (NZ$9,000 2YO 2010 NZB South Island 2YO &
Mixed Sale). O-J W & Mrs S D Duell; B-S E & Mrs S J McGiffert,
Canterbury, NZ; T-P S Richards; J-V A Colgan; NZ$40,000.
3–Saracino, 55.5, c, 3, Per Incanto (USA)–Bella Daniela, by
O'Reilly. O-Jml Bloodstock Ltd (Mgr L Petagna); B-JML
Bloodstock Ltd, Central, NZ; T-M Baker & A Forsman; J-L J
Allpress; NZ$20,000.
Margins: HD, HD, HF. Odds: 4.20, 15.30, 9.70.
Also Ran: Heroic Valour (Aus), Kawi, Alexander Pope (Ire), Sofia Rosa, Brighton, Mighty Solomon, La Luna Rossa, Perfect Fit, Signify, Watch This Space.
Click for the Racing Post chart or the NZ Racing Video.
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