Australia's last Group 1 of 2017, the G1 Magic Millions Kingston Town Classic, produced a result few would have predicted when Pounamu (Aus) (Authorized {Ire}) landed the spoils at odds of 20-1 for trainer Alan Matthews. Held up in rear early in the nine furlong contest, the 6-year-old gelding made his move down the outside in the straight and won going away from fellow longshot Material Man (Aus) (Vital Equine {Ire}) with Achernar Star (Aus) (Gingerbread Man {Aus}) back in third. Few of the fancied runners ever got involved with favourite Black Heart Bart (Aus) (Blackfriars {Aus}) suffering interference early on that scuppered his chances, eventually finishing ninth while Tom Melbourne (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) was trapped wide throughout and came home two places behind the favourite. It was Pounamu's day in the sun however, and his connections were keen to make the most of the occasion with trainer Matthews just glad the horse finally had some decent luck.
“He has been the biggest bridesmaid in WA,” Mathews told Sky Thoroughbred Central. “However today all has gone to plan. We haven't had a day when everything hasn't gone right.”
It is nine years since jockey Patrick Carberry rode a Group 1 winner and he was also relishing the feeling. “Alan Mathews has always stuck solid with me for 22 years now,” Carberry said. “I don't know if he realises how much I appreciate how solid he is. To win a Group 1 for him means a lot to me. Alan trains him [Pounamu] out of the paddock and he was in the zone today.”
Saturday's win was certainly a career best for Pounamu on his 37th start. While he had won eight times up to this, most of those victories had come in handicaps or conditions races until a win in a listed race over the same course and distance in February tempted connections to aim a little higher. That move was rewarded with a win in the G3 Asian Beau S. at Ascot Nov. 4 before Pounamu came up short when finishing a last time out sixth in the G1 James Boag's Premium Railway S. Nov. 25.
Pedigree Notes…
Pounamu was bred by his owner John Thompson and is a fifth Group 1 winner for his French-based Darley sire Authorized (Ire). He is the first foal, runner and winner out of the dual winner Tangiwai (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}) who has since produced the four-time winner Kokopu (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro). The matriarchs of the clan further down were both successful track performers; Pounama's granddam Lahar (Aus) (Kenmare {Fr}) was a stakes winner and was Group 1 placed on two occasions while her dam Volcanic (NZ) (Pompeii Court) was also a stakes winner who was placed at the highest level. Tangiwai unfortunately died last year but her legacy lives on as she gave birth to an unraced filly called Weeping Waters (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) in 2014 and a full-sister to that filly in 2015. Click for the free arion.co.nz catalogue-style pedigree.
Saturday, Ascot, Australia
KINGSTON TOWN CLASSIC-G1, A$1,015,200 (US$762,838/£569,877/€648,077), WATC, 12-09, 3yo/up, Open wfa, 1800mT, 1:49.50, gd.
1–POUNAMU (AUS), 59.0, g, 6, by Authorized (Ire)
1st Dam: Tangiwai, by Street Cry (Ire)
2nd Dam: Lahar (Aus), by Kenmare (Fr)
3rd Dam: Volcanic (NZ), by Pompeii Court
1st GROUP 1 WIN. O-Thommo's Syndicate (Mgr: J L
Thompson), Mrs P M Thompson, Ms R C Thompson, Ms A J
Thompson, G Hilton; B-Mr JL Thompson NSW; T-A D Mathews;
J-P Carbery; A$615,200. Lifetime Record: 37-9-7-6,
A$1,122,530. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Werk Nick Rating: A.
2–Material Man (Aus), 59.0, g, 6, Vital Equine (Ire)–Del Lirio
(Aus), by Hussonet. O-M J Mac Dermott, Mrs J Mac Dermott;
B-Mr M MacDermott WA; T-J T Warwick; J-Mitchell Pateman;
A$200,000.
3–Achernar Star (Aus), 52.0, g, 3, Gingerbread Man
(Aus)–Morine, by Danetime (Ire). (A$75,000 Ylg '16 MGCFEB)
O-P V Walsh, A L Harrod, J Hardy, D Jancec, A Walker, R W
Walker, M Gelmi, C Cowcher, S C Cowcher; B-Ms EE Giles WA;
T-Simon Miller; J-Chris Parnham; A$90,000.
Margins: 0.5, 0.6, 1.5. Odds: 20/1, 30/1, 15/2.
Also Ran: Perfect Jewel (Aus), It's Somewhat, Royal Star (Aus), Money Maher (Aus), Great Shot (Aus), Black Heart Bart (Aus), Cosmic Storm (Aus), Tom Melbourne (Ire), Life Less Ordinary (Ire), All Our Roads (NZ). Click for the Racing Post result.
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