Pizzazz No Surprise for Trainer

A major upset was caused by New Zealand Bloodstock South Island Sale graduate Pizzazz (NZ) (Bertolini) with the $60 chance triumphant in the Listed $50,000 Shaw’s Wire Ropes Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa on Saturday.

The seven-year-old gelding was having his second start in New Zealand since returning from Hong Kong where he won five races and over $600,000 in prizemoney. Pizzazz was forced to cover extra ground in his New Zealand debut, finishing seventh behind Waterford (NZ) (Darci Brahma) at Counties.

Trained by John Bell, Pizzazz settled well back in the 15-horse field for rider Reese Jones in an evenly run race. The son of Bertolini then produced a strong sprint in the straight has he ploughed down the centre of the track and put his head in front on the line to claim victory over Karaka Select Sale graduate Needly (NZ) (O’Reilly).

“The way he had been working it was not a surprise to us,” remarked Bell. “We expected him to be in the race but I couldn’t believe the price he was paying. It is going to be a very good Christmas for the stable.

“Trudy Thornton rode him in the trials and held onto him well as we wanted to and then was trapped wide at Counties. She got off and was not happy with herself but said he feels amazing and will win his next start and she was right.

“I bought him out of the NZB South Island Sale and he has always been a nice horse. He kept going shin sore early on but I sent him up to Paul O’Sullivan and told him he has got the ‘x-factor’.

“He did exactly the same thing at Happy Valley one day, the only difference is Te Rapa is left-handed and Happy Valley is right-handed, he came from last on the turn and came down the outside to win in a track record for Happy Valley.”

“He has an entry into the Group 1 Railway Handicap but whether he has enough points to get into the race could be a problem. We might go to the Listed Newmarket Handicap instead and then down to Wellington for the Group 1 Telegraph, it’s a 1200m race but tends to run more like a 1400m.

Pizzazz has now won six races from 26 career starts with most of his racing done in Hong Kong when trained by kiwi trainer Paul O’Sullivan. Owned by John Bell along with Benedict Sin, Saturday’s black-type success was the first stakes win for the gelding and took his career earnings to $643,738.

Bred by Berkley Stud’s Alan Jones & Edwina Morris, Pizzazz was sold at the 2008 South Island Sale of 2YOs for $80,000 by Berkley Stud. Pizzazz is out of Endrita (End Sweep) who only has had three named foals with B Choice (Coats Choice) joining Pizzazz as a winner in Hong Kong.