Bezique (NZ)
3 g Ace High – Kashika by Bachelor Duke
O: Mal Barratt & Tania Patterson
B: Gordon Cunningham
T: Ken Rae and Krystal Williams
S: 2022 NZB National Yearling Sale V: Curraghmore P: ML Barratt, NZ$20,000
W: Harcourts Bream Bay And Waipu Maiden, 1200m, August 19, Ruakaka
Rich Hill Stud’s second-season sire Ace High (High Chaparral) was handed his first winner when Bezique broke his maiden at the second time of asking in a 1200-metre event at Ruakaka last weekend.
Having finished fourth of eight on his debut at Whangarei two weeks prior, the Ken Rae and Krystal Williams-trained three-year-old raced prominently throughout under rider Jasmine Fawcett and had too much boot for his rivals in the closing stages, defeating his stablemate Rising Tide (Darci Brahma) by three-quarters of a length.
“That was great, it’s really exciting and a fantastic feeling. That’s going to be the first of many winners for the stallion,” Rich Hill’s managing director John Thompson said.
“We’ve had great feedback on the Ace Highs and he’s had five trial winners and a number of placegetters. Some of those trial horses have gone to Australia and they know all about him over there.”
Bezique was sold by his breeders Curraghmore Stud to his co-owner Mal Barratt for NZ$20,000 at Book 2 of the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.
The gelding has been likened by Rae to his former colt Whiskey Lies (Embellish), who was sold to Hong Kong following a dominant victory in the Winter Championship Final (1200m) last month.
“He’s (Bezique) a very lovely horse and always has been,” Rae said.
“He’s been on par with Whiskey Lies but has just been a wee bit behind the eight-ball training wise. He’s definitely a horse going places.”
A half-brother to four-time winner Outback Opal (El Roca), Bezique is out of the Bachelor Duke (Miswaki) mare Kashika, a half-sister to Listed winner Savabill (Savabeel). Ace High will stand the upcoming breeding season for a fee of NZ$10,000 (plus GST).