A hollow 8.5 length victory by the Chris Gibbs-trained Chevron provided resident sire El Roca with a brace of wins at Ruakaka on Saturday and elevated the son of Fastnet Rock to sixth position on the New Zealand Sires Table with his progeny earning close to $1,400,000 in stakes in New Zealand this season.
Bred and raced by the Markwood Lodge family, Chevron has now won 3 of his 9 starts and is shaping into a talented middle-distance performer for his connections. The 4YO gelding quickly assumed the lead for rider Tegan Newman from the start, and although taken on in the middle stages by Selva Verde (El Roca), he rolled along nicely in the lead before sprinting away from his rivals over the final 300m. Coruba Jak (Jakkalberry) and Selva Verde fought out the minors 8.5 lengths away.
Markwood Lodge not only race Chevron but they also bred him from their Refuse to Bend mare La Cite who they purchased through the Westbury Stud draft as a yearling for $8,000 at Karaka in 2011. La Cite showed ability in a three-start career and Chevron is her first foal.
Earlier in the day El Roca’s daughter El Noir scored a popular win for her connections Greg and Barb Ingham, Stephen Marsh, Ken Hounsell, Garry Webb, Mark Horvath, Kieran Foran, and Jim Flay and made it win number 97 for the Marsh stable this season.
The daughter of El Roca and Shabana was given a beautiful ride by leading hoop Michael McNab, being allowed to settle back in the field before cruising into the race at the 250m and finishing powerfully to reel in the leader Ever So Easy, landing a comprehensive win over the 1200m.
El Noir was bred by Greg and Barb Ingham’s GPI Racing from the Quest for Fame mare Shabana and her record stands at 3 wins and 3 second placings from her 15 career starts.
In Australia it was a day of second placings for the farm with Tarzino three-year-old Tarex finishing strong for second in the Winx Guineas Gr.3 at the Sunshine Coast, while Swiss Ace gelding Edit looked to have the A$105,000 Martin Collins Australia Final in safe keeping until just short of the post when Renouf (Street Boss) grabbed him in the last stride.
At Flemington the very consistent Redwood filly Forest Diamond put up another brave effort for second in the A$200,000 Mahogany Challenge Final over 2500m, going down to the Proisir gelding Calmsir when giving away 2.5kg in weight. A $20,000 weanling purchase from Te Runga Stud, Forest Diamond has had 8 starts for 3 wins, a second and a third from the stable of Ben Brisbourne and is sure to make into a nice staying mare next season.