Perfumist makes her mark in NZB Tibbie Stakes
New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale graduate Perfumist (NZ) (El Roca) made an emphatic return to racing at Newcastle on Friday, powering clear to claim the Gr.3 NZB Tibbie Stakes (1400m).
The Bjorn Baker-trained daughter of El Roca had shown she was ready to fire with a series of strong gallops leading into her resumption and delivered on that promise with a dominant 2.6-length victory under Rachel King.
King gave Perfumist an economical run in fifth before angling into the clear approaching the 300m. The five-year-old quickly put the result beyond doubt, accelerating clear of her rivals to record the first stakes victory of her career.
Stable representative Luke Hilton said Baker had changed Perfumist's preparation after the mare had previously struggled to produce her best when resuming.
“It’s fantastic, Bjorn has done an amazing job. She hasn't had the best first-up record, and he did things differently this time leading in and gave her an exhibition gallop and a couple of good gallops at home, and it paid off,” Hilton said.
“She really set the track alight at the Kenso last week, and it was hard to believe the time she ran, so we always knew she was going well.”
Perfumist had already demonstrated stakes-class ability, finishing third in last year's Gr.3 Angst Stakes (1600m) at Randwick behind subsequent Group One winner Idle Flyer (Dundeel), but Friday's victory provided an important breakthrough.
“She's got a lovely pedigree. She is really on target now to go back to the Angst and then off to a Big Dance later in the year,” Hilton said.
The Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick on October 3 is also an option for Perfumist, who has been allocated just 50kg for the A$1.5 million feature.
The A$2 million Big Dance (1600m) will be run at Randwick on November 3.
Friday's victory improved Perfumist's record to eight wins from 21 starts and took her career earnings to A$854,158.
Raced by OTI Racing and partners, Perfumist was purchased for $190,000 from Westbury Stud's draft at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale by Bjorn Baker Racing, OTI Racing, Phill Cataldo Bloodstock and Clarke Bloodstock.
Bred by Gerry Harvey, Perfumist is the first foal out of Tapputi (NZ), an unraced daughter of Swiss Ace from the family of Gr.1 Golden Slipper (1200m) winner Polar Success (Success Express).
Perfumist is bred on the El Roca-Swiss Ace cross that has also produced Group Two winner Swiss Prince (NZ) (El Roca) and became the 15th individual stakes winner for Westbury Stud-based sire El Roca.
There is also a timely connection to this year's New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale, with Westbury Stud offering a full-brother to Perfumist as Lot 66.
The 2026 Ready to Run Sale will be held at the Karaka Sales Centre from 11am (NZT) on November 18 and 19, with the Breeze Ups to take place on the Te Rapa Racecourse ton October 12 and 13. - NZ Racing Desk
Winner: Perfumist (NZ) 2021
Owners: O T I Racing, Mr S Cheetham, Mrs T Cheetham, Mr M E Pisani, Mr G P Amy, Ms M Vitale, Mr P D Yisrael, Mr M Marigliano, Mr J R Mulligan, Hot Chips Racing, Mr J Johannisen, Mr J A Boyd, Mr M Perry, Webbmck Racing, Beartown 45, Mr P A Tasker, Mr R Bow, Mr P Hickey, Dynamite Racing, Mr J McGregor
Trainer: Bjorn Baker (Warwick Farm)
Breeding: by El Roca (AUS) out of Tapputi by Swiss Ace (AUS)
Breeder: G Harvey
Sales: 2023 Ready to Run Sale V: Westbury Stud $190000 P: Bjorn Baker Racing / OTI / Phill Cataldo B/stock / Clarke B/stock
Ka Ying Rising cruises through Sha Tin gallop ahead of travel to Australia
Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress) has completed final preparations before travelling to Australia for a second tilt at the AU$20 million Gr.1 The Everest (1200m) at Randwick Racecourse on 17 October after a faultless track gallop at Sha Tin on Friday morning (18 September).
Exercising pre-dawn on the turf course, the world’s highest-rated horse galloped over 1200m under the watchful eye of David Hayes, clocking 1m 21.07s and rounding off the work with a final 400m sectional of 22.6s.
Triumphant in his past 21 starts, including setting a Sha Tin track record of 1m 06.11s in the Gr.3 HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup Handicap (1200m) on 6 September, Ka Ying Rising delighted Hayes ahead of the champion’s departure on Sunday night (20 September) for Sydney, where he will attempt to win the world’s richest turf race for the second time.
“He galloped and he ran on well down the straight and he did it nicely, he did it all well – and his recovery was very good,” Hayes said. “He’s eating the food. He’s ready to go after his last piece of work.”
Ka Ying Rising will spend two weeks in quarantine at Canterbury Racecourse before trialling at Randwick Racecourse on Tuesday, 6 October. Retired stablemate and half-brother Ka Ying Glory (NZ) (Turn Me Loose) will travel to Australia with Ka Ying Rising as a companion.
Hayes hopes the preparation, which is a carbon copy of last season’s victorious raid, will again deliver the major spoils.
“He’s really in great shape. Probably ahead of last year, I would say,” Hayes said. “He doesn’t need another horse to work with in quarantine in Australia. Ka Ying Glory will go for company and they can eat together.”
Ka Ying Rising, the only foreign-trained horse to win The Everest, again runs in The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s The Everest slot.
Ridden by Zac Purton, Ka Ying Rising defeated Tempted (Street Boss) and Jimmysstar (NZ) (Per Incanto) in last year’s The Everest. - Hong Kong Jockey Club
Quid collects in Great New Zealand Hurdle
The Kevin Myers-trained Quid was rewarded for his consistency when taking out the J Swap Great New Zealand Hurdles (4200m) at Te Aroha on Friday.
The eight-year-old son of Rios finished runner-up in the last two editions of the Grand National Hurdles (4200m) and was runner-up in the Hawke’s Bay Hurdle (3000m) in July, but a prestige jumps title had eluded him.
All eyes were on Squire heading into Friday, and the $3.20 favourite set the tempo up front for most of the race, while jockey Kylan Wiles settled Quid midfield. Heading down the backstraight for the final time, Dictation began to apply pressure outside the leader, which began to tell with 1000m to go.
Quid began to steadily improve and, at the 800m mark, Wiles asked him to take chase. He soon ranged up alongside Dictation and hit the lead. While the Peter and Jessica Brosnan-trained pair of Squire and Jake rallied late, Quid proved too strong in the end, running out a 4-3/4 length victor.
Owner-breeder Michael Wallace was trackside to witness the win and said his gelding deserved the spoils.
“He has run second in two Grand National Hurdles and a Hawke’s Bay Hurdle, so he was due a big hurdle race and he deserved it,” Wallace said.
“I thought when it rained this morning it brought him into it because he stays all day. He could go another round probably.
“He was too good and it was a pretty good ride from Kylan Wiles. It is great to win a big race.”
Wiles has been aboard Quid in all three of his prestige placings, and he was rapt to finally go one better on Friday.
“I was sick of coming second on this horse and we finally got the result today,” he said. “He travelled well the whole race. He got a couple of fences wrong, and he is just so clever to get out of them.
“Coming around the corner I thought we would try and get a break on them because I know he likes to wander around up front. He is a tough horse and he did the job.
“It is a big thrill. I have come second in the Hawke’s Bay (Hurdle) the last two years and second in the National in the last two years, so I needed one.” - Joshua Smith
New Zealand Bloodstock
Joshua Smith
Joshua Smith
