The year finished on a winning note for Curraghmore after adding a new winner to the tally during the festive racing period.
Trial winner You’re Welcome (Camelot) saluted on debut in the K R Bell Electrical Maiden (1200m) on December 29 at Matamata.
After working forward to settle outside the leader, You’re Welcome gained an advantage inside the 200m when asked to extend and had his rivals covered to win.
“He had to work early, but he came back to me beautifully and didn’t over race,” jockey Opie Bosson said. “It took a little bit to get him up underneath me, but he always had them covered.
“He definitely wants to go further and relaxing the way he does he could be looking at a Derby trip in time. He’s always shown enough at home and his trial win last time was very impressive.”
Boasting rich international pedigree, You’re Welcome was purchased by David Ellis for $200,000 at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale from the Curraghmore draft and carries on a great record for Jamie Richards and his team of producing debut winners sourced from Curraghmore after Weaponry did the same in November.
“He’s another good horse I’ve bought from Curraghmore Stud, a farm that produces some terrific horses and I’ve really liked the progeny of Camelot," Ellis said.
“Like his sire, Montjeu, he’s a stallion that would really suit New Zealand, and disappointing we don’t have a lot more sires like him to take over from High Chaparral and other good staying sires. Camelot was one of the best horses of his era in Europe. I’ve bought three of them and they can all gallop."
On Boxing Day Manolo Blahniq (Jimmy Choux) demonstrated his fine constitution finishing runner up in the Listed Christmas Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.
The five-year-old gelding was stepping up in grade and distance after finishing third at Pakenham earlier in December.
Trained by Tony Noonan, Manolo Blahniq settled mid-field and was left to make his own pace by jockey Dwayne Dunn before being asked to move forward with 250m to go. He finished strongly to be just over a length behind the winner Native Soldier at the post.
On New Year's Day several Curraghmore graduates will line up on what looks to be an exciting day of racing and could get 2019 off to a winning start.
At Ellerlise Rip Em Up (Rip Van Winkle) will contest the Gr.2 Royal Stakes (2000m) while later in the day Belle Du Nord (Reliable Man) will aim to make it back-to-back Group Two wins when she lines up in the Rich Hill Stud Mile (1600m).
At Flemington last start winner Theanswermyfriend (High Chaparral) will step out in the Gr.3 Standish Handicap (1200m) while Long Leaf (Fastnet Rock) will have a run in preparation for a start in the three-year-old Karaka Million at the end of January.
Gordon Cunningham and the crew at Curraghmore would like to wish everyone a happy and healthy New Year and are looking forward to catching up at Karaka.
