'Paddy' Powers to Classic Score

Making the ninth start of his spring campaign, veteran Authentic Paddy (NZ) (Howbaddouwantit) finally put all the pieces together when first past the post in the G1 Zabeel Classic at Ellerslie on Tuesday. The Boxing Day feature, conducted over a dead course going 2000 metres, saw the 22-1 shot beat G1 Bonecrusher New Zealand S. victress Lizzie l'Amour (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) by 1 1/4 lengths, with MG1SW Volkstok'n'barrell (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) 2 1/4 lengths behind in third. In charge from the bell, the Lisa Latta trainee was tracked by Lizzie l'Amour and 2016 Zabeel Classic heroine Consensus (NZ) (Postponed) for the first 1000 metres. Able to sustain an easy gallop throughout under Trudy Thornton, he soon had his rivals at his mercy, with Lizzie l'Amour briefly getting to his girth, before the gelding pulled away as the line neared. Favoured two-time Group 3 winner Hiflyer (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) could not make up the required ground and finished eighth.

“It's just an absolute buzz,” Latta told NZRacing.co.nz. “He's a lovely horse and he so deserved that. It's been a great day for us. He needs a strong rider and Trudy does exactly what she's told.”

Added Thornton, “It's amazing, he knows his job and he's a pleasure to ride. I just want to thank Lisa and the owners for the ride.”

It's been a long break between wins for the 8-year-old gelding, who last saluted the judge in the G3 Canterbury Gold Cup at Riccarton Park in April of 2016. At that point, Authentic Paddy had already placed twice at the highest level, and he would add another trio of top-three efforts in his next 22 starts before finally sealing the deal in Tuesday's feature. Third in the Nov. 7 G3 OMF S. over this course, Authentic Paddy took fifth going a mile at Trentham in the G1 Captain Cook S. behind Kawi (NZ) (Savabeel {Aus}) on Dec. 9 and went one better last time in a 2000m open event at Awapuni on Dec. 16.

Pedigree Notes…

Authentic Paddy is the second Group 1 winner following Mi Jubilee (NZ) for the Rahy horse Howbaddouwantit, whose greatest claim to fame Stateside was a victory in the 1998 GIII Laurel Dash S. The turf sprint specialist has also sired four other group winners to date, among his 10 black-type scorers. The winning Authentic Cross has a 2-year-old colt by Cape Blanco (Ire) and a yearling filly by Tavistock (NZ). Under the fourth dam is Australian MG1SW Lord Ballina (Aus) (Bletchingly {Aus}) and G1SW Zegna (Aus) (Vain {Aus}). This is also the family of 1998 G1 Telegraph H. hero Vegas (NZ) (Kaapstad {NZ}). Click for the free Arion.com catalogue-style pedigree.

Tuesday, Ellerslie, New Zealand
ZABEEL CLASSIC-G1, NZ$280,000 (US$196,723/£147,184/€165,795), ARC, 12-26, Open, WFA, 2000mT, 2:06.31, Dead.
1–AUTHENTIC PADDY, 59, g, 8, by Howbaddouwantit (USA)
         1st Dam: Authentic Cross, by Cape Cross (Ire)
         2nd Dam: Authenticity (Aus), by Bellotto (USA)
         3rd Dam: Authentic Wonder (Aus), by True Version (Aus)
O-Mrs J E Berry, C, P J & T Gray & M Tepaa; B-D H Robinson
(NZ); T-Ms L Latta; J-T D Thornton. NZ$120,000. Lifetime
Record: 77-11-16-15, NZ$665,395. Werk Nick Rating: B+. Click
   for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Lizzie l'Amour, 57, m, 5, Zabeel–Sabia (Fr), by Sadler's Wells
(USA). O-G J & Mrs L M Moore; B-Mrs L M Moore (NZ); T-M
Baker & A Forsman; J-M Cameron. NZ$39,000.
3–Volkstok'n'barrell, 59, g, 6, Tavistock–Volkster, by Volksraad
(GB). (NZ$50,000 Ylg '13 NZB National Yearling Sale). O-G J
Cossey, Mrs A Gibbs, C W Gibbs, J A Gibbs, Mnzm, A M
Goodwin, Mrs D M Logan & Rosemont Stud Pty Ltd; B-IDL
Breeding Ltd (NZ); T-D Logan & C Gibbs; J-L G Innes.
NZ$19,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, 2 1/4, 3 3/4. Odds: 21.60, 4.80, 4.62.
Also Ran: Consensus, Benzini (Aus), Stolen Dance, Sofia Rosa, Hiflyer, Chance to Dance (Ire), Endean Rose.
Click for the Racing Post chart. NZ Racing Video.