Tutukaka (NZ)
2 g Tavistock ex Meleka Belle by Iffraaj
O: Mr A W Pike, Mr M J Chittick, Mr G J Chittick, Raffles Thoroughbred Racing, Mr H B NORCROSS, Mr B M Waldron, Mrs E A Waldron, Whakanui Stud Ltd, Mr B M Sherwin, Mr N A Greenhalgh, Mr M G Chitty, Mr M L Watson
B: Mrs N M Leicester
T: Tony Pike
S: 2020 NZB Karaka Yearling Sale V: Haunui Farm P: Pike Racing
W: Tattersall’s Life Member Stakes (Listed, 1830m), Eagle Farm, June 26
Tutukaka (Tavistock) might be some way off the 14 Group 1 wins of his illustrious half-sister Melody Belle (Commands), but the regally-bred juvenile did, to some extent, match the Kiwi record-breaker with a two-year-old stakes win.
A maiden going into Saturday’s opening race at Eagle Farm, the Tony Pike-trained gelding stepped up in trip to 1830 metres after a credible run over 1500 metres in the Phoenix Stakes (Listed, 1500m) a fortnight earlier. He made light work of four rivals in the Tattersall’s Life Member Stakes (Listed, 1830m), defeating Balmaurice (Maurice) by four lengths.
Pike, who paid $250,000 for the son of Tavistock (Montjeu) at the 2020 Karaka Yearling Sale, has pinpointed Tutukaka as a VRC Derby (Gr 1, 2500m) candidate in the spring and has sought to increase his rating during a Queensland winter campaign.
Assistant trainer Chris McNab said he would now return to New Zealand to spell before a tilt at the Melbourne spring.
“He’s probably still six months away and the idea was to bring him here to Queensland and get his rating up to get him to the Derby in Melbourne,” said McNab.
“He will fly him back home on Tuesday week.
“Tony doesn’t miss anything. He had this race in mind, then head to Melbourne, so we are on track.”
Tutukaka became the 31st individual stakes winner for the late Cambridge Stud stallion Tavistock.