Barrier trials at Te Rapa in New Zealand on Monday included four heats for new season two year-olds and two were won by youngsters sired by Australian based first season sires in Zousain and Castelvecchio.
Trained by Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson, two year old Zousain filly The Victress won her 650m heat by three-quarters of a length leading throughout.
The Victress was a $250,000 Magic Millions purchase for David Ellis from the Coolmore draft and she was a successful pinhook having been bought for $130,000 from the Bhima Thoroughbreds draft at the Inglis Weanling Sale. She is a half-sister to three winners from stakes-winning Exceed and Excel mare Liesele.
Zousain stands at Widden Stud at a fee of $22,000 and had yearlings sell this year for up to $650,000.
There was a dead heat in this trial with Castelvecchio colt Cognoscenti finishing right next to his Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson trained stablemate Snitzel colt Unbridled Joy.
Cognoscenti was a $200,000 Karaka Book 1 purchase for David Ellis from the Landsdowne Park draft and was also a successful pinhook having been sourced in Australia from the Sullivan Bloodstock draft at the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale for $145,000. He is the first foal of Fastnet Rock mare Irish Goodbye, who comes from the family of dual Group I winner Samaready, the dam of Golden Slipper winner Shinzo.
Unbridled Joy was purchased from the Magic Millions Westbury Stud draft for $650,000 by David Ellis. He is the first foal of winning High Chaparral (IRE) mare Joy Forever, who comes from the Christmas Spirit branch of the Denise’s Joy family that has produced Group I winners Thorn Park and Bentley Biscuit.
Castelvecchio stands at Arrowfield Stud at a fee of $27,500 and had yearlings sell this year for up to $360,000.
