South Australian Derby
Kiwi-breds land another Classic as Wigmore wins South Australian Derby
New Zealand import Wigmore (Sweynesse) has been in work on both sides of the Tasman for six months but that didn’t stop him motoring home for a narrow victory in the South Australian Derby (Gr 1, 2500m) at Morphettville on Saturday.
Wigmore was purchased by OTI director Terry Henderson from clients of trainer Caley Myers after finishing fourth to Road To Paris (Circus Maximus) in the New Zealand Derby (Gr 1, 2400m) at Ellerslie in March.
“Terry came up and told me he had 25 per cent left so I put a few mates in which makes this a massive result,” trainer Phillip Stokes said after the stable newcomer nailed VRC Oaks (Gr 1, 2500m) winner Strictly Business (Grunt) in a $41 blow-out for punters.
Stokes was claiming back-to-back wins in the Classic following Femminile (Dundeel) who won with Lachie Neindorf aboard 12 months ago. Neindorf missed the ride this year but his dad Steve has a share in Wigmore.
“We just brought him along slowly. He ran midfield first-up for us in the Chairman's Stakes on Anzac Day and did an amazing job to win today,” Stokes said.
“He didn’t even need a jump-out being such a clean-winded horse. He’s done really well in the last week and he’s a natural stayer. Who knows? In time we could have a Melbourne Cup horse.
“I’ve had a bit of luck with these types of horses like Daqiansweet Junior who was also from New Zealand. They can leave it on the track if you overtrain them.
“He didn’t even need a jump-out being such a clean-winded horse. He’s done really well in the last week and he’s a natural stayer. Who knows? In time we could have a Melbourne Cup horse
“We’re getting up there now with nine Group 1 wins but don’t ask me what we do with him next. There’s the Queensland Derby but I’m not sure if I want to go that way.”
Stand-in jockey Teo Nugent rode a perfect race on the Soft 7 surface in Adelaide.
“He’s been trained to the minute and felt super when I was legged up,” the winning rider said.
“He’s a typical Kiwi and I switched off the heels of Kaye Jay into the straight and was confident bringing him down the middle of the track. He was only getting warm in the final stages and it took me a while to pull up.
"It's my second Group 1 and it’s been a few years between drinks but it's fitting to get one for Phil. I promised him when I was about 12 that I was going to be his apprentice.”
Wigmore's progression through sales rings, is almost as impressive as his rapid rise to become a
Group 1 winner at just his eighth start.
Originally offered online as a weanling in 2023
on Gavelhouse.com by Hallmark Stud, Wigmore was purchased by Ed Stapleton and Dylan Ralph of Ralph
Thoroughbreds for just $1700.
The pinhook paid dividends, with the colt being resold out of Book 2 of the 2024 NZB Karaka Sale for $25,000 to Wanganui trainer Kevin Myers. Entering the stable of Caley Myers, Wigmore didn’t take long to show potential, winning at his third outing in January, with his rapid rise culminating for Myers with a fourth in the NZ Derby in March. This attracted the attention of OTI Racing and the gelding changed hands yet again, this time privately, resulting in a change of colours and country, and resulting in yesterday’s Group 1 victory.
He was bred by Karlene Murdoch and owns a stout pedigree as a half-brother to New Zealand Cup (Gr 3, 3200m) winner Mondorani (Burgundy).
Further down the page, his third-dam Arborea (Imperial Prince) was one of the best fillies of her generation at three winning the VRC Oaks, Wakeful Stakes (Gr 2, 2000m) and One Thousand Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) in the spring of 1993.
Wigmore’s sire Sweynesse (Lonhro) stands at Novara Park in Cambridge and he’s an all-purpose stallion, siring Champion Hong Kong Sprinter Lucky Sweynesse through to Group-winning stayers Only Words, Trust In You and Special Swey.
Thomas Farms South Australian Derby (GR 1)
Show
Thomas Farms South Australian Derby (GR 1)
$1,000,000, Morphettville, 3yo, 2518m, Soft(7)
-
Wigmore (NZ) 3 b G 56kg
Sweynesse (AUS) - Del Mondo (USA), by More Than Ready (USA)
B: Mrs K L Murdoch & Shirley M Trust, Auckland, NZ T: P Stokes J: Teodore Nugent
NZ$25,000, New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale 2024
V: Ralph Thoroughbreds
P: KT Myers
-
Strictly Business (AUS) 3 br F 54kg
Grunt (NZ) - Tivoli Lass (AUS), by Uncle Mo (USA)
B: Mr M Falvey VIC T: Thomas Carberry J: John Allen
-
Autumn Mystery (AUS) 3 b G 56kg
The Autumn Sun (AUS) - Stop Making Sense (AUS), by Sebring (AUS)
B: Gilgai Farm VIC T: Rory Hunter J: B Rawiller
Margins: 0.2 lens, 0.5 lens. Time: 2:42.63 (last 600m 36.32)
Betting: $41.00, $12.00, $31.00
Then followed: Single Choice (AUS), Savisanta (NZ), Amazake (AUS), Impulsive Reaction (AUS), Kaye Jay (AUS), Arabian Prince (AUS), Silvasista (AUS), Cannae (AUS), After Summer (AUS), Flying Brant (AUS), Engine of War (NZ), Geneva (NZ), Kazaru (NZ), last.
Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre Stakes
Wootton Bassett colt Excite leads home feature race quinella for James and Wellwood
The Roger James and Robert Wellwood stable were to the fore at Te Rapa on Saturday when progressive juveniles Excite (Wootton Bassett) and Incandescent (Per Incanto) produced a feature race quinella in the Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre Stakes (Listed, 1400m).
Wootton Bassett (Iffraaj) colt Excite was backed into $2.75 favouritism for the contest off the back of an excellent run for fourth in the Manawatu Sires’ Produce Sakes (Gr 1, 1400m) at Trentham, and although he was still a maiden after three races in his opening campaign, he was expected to open his winning account on the weekend.
Rider George Rooke gave him the perfect run in the trail behind pacemakers Walkin In Memphis (Too Darn Hot) and Bourbon Time (Exceed And Excel) and it was obvious turning for home he had a lapful of horse if he could get a clear shot at the leaders.
Excite shouldered his way into the clear at the 250 metres and pounced on the leading pair before easing a length clear as he hit the line full of running from his stablemate Incandescent, who had found clear air wider out and stormed into the runner-up position narrowly ahead of Bourbon Time and Walkin In Memphis, who both battled gamely after being headed.
James hinted a possible Australian campaign could be in the offing for Excite, who looks to have plenty of untapped potential.
“I think he [Excite] is a pretty fair horse in the making as we rode him a little conservatively at his last start because he is still a horse in the making,” James said.
“We found out we could trust him and George rode him an absolute treat today and he duly delivered.
“The other horse [Incandescent] was good too as he made ground late to grab second, so we have a couple of smart horses looking towards the spring.
“We will see how they come through their runs but there is a nice race for Excite in a couple of weeks at Ellerslie [Listed Champagne Stakes] and I think we could go there.
“If he could string two wins together, we might even look at something offshore as he has improved all season and is coping with his racing very well.
“I think he is a Guineas horse in the making.”
Rooke noted the horse had always been held in high regard but was only now beginning to learn his trade.
“He has just been a lot greener than first anticipated when he first started running,” he said.
“He is learning all the time and today he did everything right. He is going to improve, be better over a mile and better again next year.
“He relaxed perfectly today and is very exciting. I think he could be a Group 1 horse.”
Raced by his breeder Colin Litt and his wife Helen, who also had their multiple Group 1 winning mare Orchestral (Savabeel) in the stable, Excite is out of the stakes winning Savabeel (Zabeel) mare Elate, who herself is a half-sister to Bendigo Cup (Gr 3, 2400m) winner High Emocean (Ocean Park).
The win provided Coolmore’s late shuttle sensation Wootton Bassett with his 79th individual stakes winner.
Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre Stakes (LR)
Show
Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre Stakes (LR)
$80,000, Te Rapa, 2yo, 1400m, Good(4)
-
Excite (AUS) 2 br C 57kg
Wootton Bassett (GB) - Elate (NZ), by Savabeel (AUS)
B: Mr C Litt NSW T: R James & R Wellwood J: G Rooke -
Incandescent (NZ) 2 b G 57kg
Per Incanto (USA) - Saint Katarina (AUS), by Snitzel (AUS)
B: Little Avondale Trust, Central, NZ T: R James & R Wellwood J: Joe Doyle
-
Bourbon Time (AUS) 2 gr F 55kg
Exceed and Excel (AUS) - White Thyme (AUS), by Reset (AUS)
B: Wallings Bloodstock Pty Ltd NSW T: S B Marsh J: M J Mc Nab
Margins: 0.9 lens, 0.1 lens. Time: 1:24.37 (last 600m)
Betting: $2.80, $7.50, $26.00
Then followed: Walkin in Memphis (AUS), Grocer's Girl (NZ), Royce (NZ), So Fear (NZ), Belle Rebelle (NZ), last.





























