Vespa (NZ) Powers to Group 1 Success

Last start $1m Karaka Million winner Vespa (NZ) (Elusive City) has confirmed his status as New Zealand’s leading two-year-old with victory in the Group 1 $200,000 Haunui Farm Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie on Saturday.

Vespa (NZ) triumphant in the Group 1 Haunui Farm Diamond Stakes. Photo courtesy of Trish Dunell.

Returning to the same course where he had won New Zealand’s richest race on a Slow 7 track, Vespa was installed as race-favourite by punters for trainer Johno Benner, racing on a Good 3 track this time.

Regular rider Mark du Plessis bounced the son of Elusive City to the front from the barriers with O’Marilyn (O’Reilly) sitting on his outside throughout the running. After easing the pace mid-race, Vespa and O’Marilyn kicked away from the field in the straight and set down to fight out the race, despite a gallant effort from O’Marilyn, Vespa was too strong as he hit the line in front by a neck with Plantium Balos (Bernardini) running on from the rear of the field to gain third.

 “It has been a good year for us, a good year for the horse and a good year for the team, it was a huge result,” commented Benner.

“Obviously five weeks between runs may have been a little cause for concern but we stuck to our guns and had faith we had him ready enough so we were pretty confident. He is going to have a nice well-deserved rest now.

“He has got so much physical improvement left in him, everything he has done to this point has been good but I think he can only get better. He was a late foal – a November foal – so has done extremely well.

“Chris (Rutten) buys all of his own horses and has a lovely eye for an athlete. He sticks to his guns and really liked this horse and it has worked out well for us.”

The Select Sale graduate becomes the second consecutive horse to win the Group 1 Diamond Stakes after winning the Karaka Million at his previous start following star filly Ruud Awakening (Bernardini) who completed the double in 2013. In the Karaka Million’s seven-year history, five horses that competed in the race have won the Group 1 Diamond Stakes in the same season.

It was a very successful day at the office for rider Mark du Plessis who was in hot form, riding five winners on the 10-race programme including the Group 3 Magnum-NZTBA Mr Tiz Trophy on Bounding (Lonhro).

Saturday’s victory was the fourth victory from six starts for Vespa who has never finished out of the top three. The colt has earned $697,150 in prizemoney for his owners Chris Rutten and John Norwood.

Chris Rutten, acting under the name Cavallo Agistment Centre, purchased Vespa for $34,000 from the 2013 Karaka Select Sale from Valachi Downs.

Bred by Kevin Hickman, Vespa is out of the Fantastic Light mare Miss Avalon who is a daughter of Group 3 Royal Ascot winner Mythical Girl (Gone West) and half-sister to dual listed winner Toruk Macto (Authorized).