Wexford filly pounces to victory in Sunline Vase

Wexford Stables came out of their winter hibernation in the best possible fashion at Ellerslie on Saturday when Pounce (NZ) (Almanzor) posted their first win of the season in the Gr.3 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Sunline Vase (1200m).

The daughter of Almanzor jumped away well and secured the coveted one-one position early behind Miss Janet (Home Affairs), who ensured Summer Schemer (Dirty Work) kept an honest tempo upfront. Jockey Craig Grylls presented Pounce three-wide at the turn and she lived up to her name, pouncing on her rivals and secured the lead with 200m to go. She kicked into another gear in the concluding stages to score by 1-1/2 lengths over Silhouette, with a further long head back to Queensland raider Dream Roca (NZ) (El Roca) in third.

Grylls has a high opinion of Pounce and he was glad to see her attain black-type.

“She jumped well from a nice gate in barrier four and she lobbed straight into the one-one,” he said. “She travelled well and followed the Go Racing horse (Miss Janet) into the race and she has put them away pretty convincingly.

“The key today was back on a better track and she has done the rest. I have always been excited about this filly. She relaxes so well and over the shorter trip today she just switched off.”

Pounce, who won one of her two starts as a juvenile, resumed with a sixth placing in the Listed Chittick Family Fillies Classic (1100m) on a Heavy8 track at Taupo last month, and trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott were pleased to be back on a better track at Ellerslie on Saturday, and she thrived on the Soft5 footing.

“We came away from Taupo pleased with her performance, but it wasn’t quite the result we were looking for,” Scott said. “We got her back on quick ground, aided by a beautiful ride by Craig today. She got all favours in the run. She had to level up to them and she was good in the last bit, she really ran out the 1200m strong, which gives us a good bit of hope going forward. Hopefully she runs a little further.

“It’s a huge thrill for the team. It’s been a long winter, and it is the first win of the season. It’s good to be on the board and it’s a good race to win, and it is good to be winning at Ellerslie.”

Pounce is nominated for both the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) and Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton in November, and Scott said she will improve as the season progresses.

“The summer is her time, but she is three and they have all got to lead to Christchurch at this stage,” he said. “We just want to celebrate today and enjoy today and hopefully we crack on and she has a good summer ahead of her.”

By Cambridge Stud stallion Almanzor, Pounce is out of winning Darci Brahma mare Caminata (NZ), who is a full sister to stakes winner Summer’s Day (NZ) and Group Three performer Dagny (NZ).

Pounce was bred by Cambridge Stud principals Sir Brendan and Lady Jo Lindsay. They offered her through their farm’s 2025 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft and she was sold to the $110,000 bid of Wexford Stables.

Pounce has now won two of her four starts and earned just shy of $112,000 in prizemoney.