Top Shelf Performance from Dowager Queen

It's not every weekend that a two-year-old filly steps out and beats the older fillies and mares at Listed level, but Dowager Queen did exactly that in Saturday's Listed Windsor Park Stud Rotorua Stakes (1400m).

Trained by the inform Graeme & Debbie Rogerson, Dowager Queen (Savabeel x Dower) produced a bold effort in the heavy footing, beating a strong field of older horses in the Listed event.

Under a feather weight of 46 kilograms with Lisa Allpress in the saddle, Dowager Queen was made to work in the heavy going, giving Fleur de Lune a three length head start in the straight. But not to be out done, the two-year-old really showed her fighting qualities and produced a brilliant turn-off-foot to race clear in the final strides to win by three-quarters-of-a-length.

The daughter of Savabeel has now won two consecutive races at stakes level, her last start netting the Listed Champagne Stakes at Ellerslie. A filly that looks to be at the top of her game, she will be joining the large kiwi contingent heading to Queensland for the feature racing, and looks to be a top prospect.

Savabeel is a sire that has continually made headlines over the last few months. His progeny are really hitting their straps on the track, with another filly Scarlett Lady, also beating the older mares in the Group 2 Travis Stakes just last weekend. Standing at Waikato Stud, Savabeel will commence the 2011 season at a fee of $20,000.

Dowager Queen is raced by the Two 'N One Partnership and has now won three of her nine starts and is the earner of over $85,000. She was purchased by the Two 'N One Partnership from Dormello Stud for $50,000 at the 2010 Karaka Premier Sale.

Her full-sister - Molly Coco was purchased by Karen Fenton-Ellis at the 2011 National Weanling, Broodmare & Mixed Bloodstock Sale for $60,000.

Well Deserved Black-Type for Vivid Vixen
The Mick Price trained five-year-old mare Vivid Vixon has continued her campaign in fine style at Morphettville yesterday, winning the Listed ACG Security Stakes (2004m).

Racing in solid form throughout her campaign, Vivid Vixen (Ekraar x Pompeia) was given a lovely ride by Craig Newitt, settling just off the pace and producing a bold effort in the straight to beat the well bred Redoute's Choice mare Platinum Passion by just over a length.

The winner of seven of her 17 race day starts, the win was her first at black-type level after placing twice at Listed level this campaign.

Purchased by Mileshan Nominees Pty from Ardsley Stud for $50,000 at the 2007 Karaka Select Sale, Vivid Vixon has now won over A$320,000 on the track.

NZ's Outstanding Hong Kong Season Continues
NZB graduates have continued their Hong Kong season in style over the weekend winning six races on the ten race card at Sha Tin, with the NZ suffix taking out nine races.

New Zealand stallions played a big hand in the meeting with the boom young sire Thorn Park notching up a winner through his son Gift is Gift, now unbeaten in three starts, as well as Waikato Stud stallions O'Reilly and Pins.

Little Avondale Stud had a successful meeting with their resident stallion Towkay notching up a winner through his son Fun Heroes, while Goodview Successor (O'Reilly) who was sold by the Stud won the Class 3 Wong Cup.

In another highlight, Prosperity, the son of Zabeel from the Group 1 winning mare Surprize Surprize, a $360,000 graduate of the 2008 Ready to Run Sale from Lyndhurst Farm, claimed his first Hong Kong win in only his second start.

New Zealand is coming off one of the most successful Hong Kong seasons in recent years in 2010, with the NZ suffix carried to 11 black-type wins, more than any other country.

The 2011 season has seen New Zealand bred horses win an astonishing 10 black-type races already, with outstanding performances from Ambitious Dragon and Beauty Flash heading the kiwi contingent. The closest country to New Zealand in black-type wins in the 2011 season is Australia with six.

New Zealand bred horses also won five of the twelve race card in Singapore last night with winning progeny from NZ based sires Shinko King and Istidaad.