By Heather Anderson
Testing the waters at the Group 1 level for the first time in Trentham's NZ$200,000 G1 Captain Cook S., Aide Memoire (NZ) (Remind) handled the step up in class admirably, delivering the goods by 1 1/4 lengths over Authentic Paddy (NZ) (Howbaddouwantit) Saturday. The 12-1 shot was part of a four-horse charge to the lead, but she eventually settled third against the fence as Battle Time (NZ) (Battle Paint) set a testing pace while shadowed by 2015 Cook hero Julinsky Prince (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) over the dead going. The 5-year-old mare waited until called upon by 50-year-old pilot Robert Hannam, willing split horses inside the final 400 metres and began to edge clear. Despite strong rallies from Authentic Paddy and Ringo (NZ) close home, Aide Memoire held on to win comfortably. A half-length separated the next two, with Scapolo (NZ) (Bachelor Duke) a further 1 1/4 lengths behind in fourth. Favored MG1SW Volkstok'n'barrell (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) was a running on sixth.
“Robert [Hannam] and I go back a long way and he rode my first winner,” victorious trainer Fraser Auret, who also saddled last year's victor Julinsky Prince in the Trentham feature, told www.nzracing.co.nz. “This is a very special, just massive. I had a quick word with Johnathan [Parkes, the rider of Authentic Paddy] and he said the horse was just a bit quiet today, but this girl hasn't put a foot wrong since day one.”
“She's the new kid on the block and while Paddy has been a great horse to me, I had to look to the future,” added winning hoop Robert Hannam, who had the unenviable task of picking between Aide Memoire and veteran galloper Authentic Paddy in the lead up to the Captain Cook S. “The plan was to sit outside the leader, but they were going hard, so I slotted into the trial and put her to sleep. She really kicked well in the straight. You can't beat a Group 1, they are the pinnacle of horse racing.”
Aide Memoire has been remarkably consistent in 2016 with only one off the board finish from five appearances, including a wins second up in a handicap at Otaki May 12 and in the Listed James Bull Rangitikei Gold Cup S. in her first try at black-type going this distance at Awapuni May 21. She filled the second spot in the June 25 Listed Tauranga Classic S. and ended her season with an uncharacteristic sixth-place showing in the Listed Opunake Cup S. in heavy going at New Plymouth Jul 23. The Fraser Auret trainee added another handicap victory upon resuming going 1200 metres here Oct. 22 prior to a runner-up performance last out at Tauranga Nov. 12.
Pedigree Notes…
The best performer by turf-loving U.S. listed winner and eight-time graded-stakes placed Remind (Deputy Minister), Aide Memoire is out of a four-time winning dam by 1987 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile hero Success Express (Hold Your Peace) who was exported Down Under in 1988. The last known foal from her dam is a 3-year-old gelding by Coats Choice (Aus), while her second dam was a MSW in the U.S. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
Saturday, Trentham, New Zealand
CAPTAIN COOK STAKES-G1, NZ$200,000 (US$142,775/£112,177/€133,823), WRC, 12-03, Open WFA, 1600mT, 1:35.87, dead.
1–@&AIDE MEMOIRE, 57.0, m, 5, by Remind (USA)
1st Dam: Explain, by Success Express (USA)
2nd Dam: Nancy's Glory (USA), by His Excellency (USA)
3rd Dam: Tinted Glory (USA), by Reflected Glory (USA)
O-M J Askew, M I Deans, D Garraway, C J Gerbs, A Groves & D
E Tuffery; B-A Groves, I C Gunn & Hedwood Thoroughbreds
Ltd, Canterbury, NZ; T-F J Auret; J-R J Hannam; NZ$118,750.
Lifetime Record: 16-7-6-0, NZ$217,285. Werk Nick Rating: B.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Authentic Paddy, 59.0, g, 7, Howbaddouwantit (USA)–
Authentic Cross, by Cape Cross (IRE). O-Mrs J E Berry, C, P J & T
Gray & M Tepaa; B-D H Robinson, Central, NZ; T-Ms L Latta; J-J
K Riddell; NZ$38,000.
3–Ringo, 59.0, g, 7, Fastnet Rock (Aus)–Akris, by Zabeel.
(NZ$150,000 Ylg 2011 NZB National Yearling Sale) O-G P
Calder, P G Gillespie, W J Gleeson & M J Morton; B-W J
Bloodstock Ltd, Central, NZ; T-M P Breslin; J-H S Tinsley
NZ$19,000.
Margins: 1.3 len, 1.7 len, 3.0 len. Odds: 12.60, 19.50, 10.40.
Also Ran: Scapolo, Big Dreamer, Volkstok'n'barrell, Abidewithme, Bel Sorriso, Slice of Class, Nashville, Battle Time, Savaria, El Pescado, Julinsky Prince.
Click for the Racing Post Result. NZ Racing Video.
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