Breeding & Racing Magazine

Alamosa Wins NZ Gr1 Otaki-Maori

In New Zealand, Waikato Stud stallion O'Reilly (Last Tycoon-Courtza, by Pompeii Court) added a Gr1 triumph when star 3YO colt Alamosa (O'Reilly-Lodore Mystic, by Centaine) smashed the track record in notching his 2nd successive Gr1 victory over older rivals (& 3rd Gr1 win overall) with a half-length margin in the NZ$200,000 weight-for-age Gr1 Otaki-Maroi WFA (1600m) at Otaki. Favourite Alamosa (ridden by Michael Walker for trainer Peter McKay) recorded 1min 32.69sec (almost 0.75sec better that the previous record) in defeating front-running & 4-time Gr1-winning 6YO gelding Sir Slick (Volksraad-Miss Opera, by Paris Opera) who won this race last year & multiple stakes-winning fellow 6YO gelding Fiscal Madness (Volksraad-Belle Nuite, by Balmerino). Alamosa (a NZ$60,000 yearling at the 2006 NZ Bloodstock Premier Sale at Karaka) was 2nd-highest rated NZ 2YO last season & took his record to 9 wins (also including last start's Gr1 Thorndon Mile over 1600m at Trentham on January 26 & the Gr3 Wellington Stakes over 1600m at Trentham a week earlier on January 19, plus December's Gr2 Avondale Guineas over 1600m & October's Gr2 Hawke's Bay Guineas over 1400m at Hastings, as well as last season's Gr1 Ford Diamond Stakes over 1200m at Ellerslie & Listed Wellesley Stakes over 1000m at Hastings) & 5 placings (including runner-ups in both November's Gr1 NZ 2000 Guineas over 1600m at Riccarton Park & October's Gr2 Wellington Guineas over 1500m at Trentham, as well as last season placings in the Gr1 Ford Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes over 1400m at Awapuni & Listed Welcome Stakes over 1000m at Riccarton Park) from 17 starts.