Group One Win A Perfect Fit For Haunui Farm

Haunui Farm enjoyed a special day at Te Aroha on Saturday, headlined by Perfect Fit’s Group One win in the NZ Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes.

From four entrants on the day Haunui produced a quinella in the sixth race with its homebred pair Nelson Park (Iffraj) and Chancery (Makfi) followed by progressive mare Triaction running a game third in her open class debut.

Those results were then topped by Perfect Fit who led all the way in the feature event.

“It’s hard to explain the feelings you have after a day like that,” said Haunui Farm’s Mark Chitty.

“We knew leading into the day we had four lovely horses going to the races in tip top condition but to come away with a Group One win, a race quinella and a superb third was just amazing.

“I don’t think we’ve ever quinellaed a race before so it was certainly a hell of a day.”

Perfect Fit became the fifth G1 winner by former shuttle sire Elusive City (Elusive Quality) when she held on to win by a long neck from Abidewithme (Redoute’s Choice) with Soubrettes (High Chaparral) a close third.

Trained by Ken Kelso, Perfect Fit has won all three starts this preparation including last month’s G2 Westbury Classic where she beat Soubrettes.

“She has got a fabulous temperament and does everything right, she’s a very good mover and it’s just a dream to have her,” Kelso said.

Kelso may target the Brisbane carnival with Perfect Fit.

“We’ll see how she does but there has been a hint about Brisbane but we’ll wait and see,” he said.

The 4YO Perfect Fit (Elusive City x Fayreform by Tights) is raced by Haunui Bloodstock and has now won six of her 11 starts and been placed a further four times for NZ$268,500.

She is a daughter of the three-time G1 winner Fayreform (Tights), the dam of four other winners from eight foals to race.

Kelso also trained the 2013 winner Xanadu, another daughter of Elusive City who stands in France at Haras d’Etreham.

There was tragedy for The Oaks Stud when their classy John Bary-trained mare Recite (Darci Brahma) had to be put down after breaking a leg during the race.

Recite won the G1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes at two and added the G1 Levin Classic at three.

• SWISS Ace filly Hollywood Lass will be set for the Queensland carnival by trainer Tony Pike following her impressive debut victory at Te Aroha.

The winner of two trials scored easily over 1200m by four and three-quarters of a length and is highly regarded by her stable.

Hollywood Lass is out of the St Petersburg mare Holly Bolly.

• MASTERCRAFTSMAN 4YO Saint Emilion will chase a black type success for the Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman stable after recording his sixth win for the seson in Saturday’s Te Aroha Cup.

His next assignment is set to be the Listed Hawke’s Bay Cup at Hastings next Saturday.

The four-year-old has had two previous attempts at Listed level and finished seventh in the Kaimai Stakes before he was a beaten favourite in the New Zealand St Leger.

Saint Emilion is out of Pentire mare Roseario.

• MAKFI filly McPhoebe continued a winning streak for trainers Johno Benner and Hollie Wynyard when she won the juvenile Luna Rossa Cup at Trentham for her second win of the season.

The Otaki trainers produced the talented Humidor (Teofilo) to win the G3 Manawatu Classic a week ago and also enjoyed success at Awapuni on Friday with Lucy Liu (Thorn Park).

“McPhoebe is a special filly - what she’s achieved as a two-year-old is a bonus,” Benner said.

“She’s very well bred and she’s going to make a lovely three-year-old. There’s no reason to think she won’t run a very good mile next season.”

Raced by her Wellington breeder Simon Niblett, whose broodmare band is based at Curraghmore, McPhoebe is out of the Stravinsky mare Ballet Danseuse, a half-sister to Melbourne Cup winner Efficient (Zabeel).

McPhoebe may make another appearance this season in a Listed race at either Te Rapa or Riccarton.