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Only Words lands Wanganui Guineas on Saturday

The Novara Park-based stallion Sweynesse (Lonhro) sired his second stakes winner on Saturday as the Clinton Isdale-trained Only Words (3 f ex Jungle Pago by Darci Brahma) landed the Wanganui Guineas (Listed, 1200m). 

The three-year-old filly - who broke her maiden on her previous start - stayed on strongly to beat Atishu (Savabeel) by a neck, while Miss Dixie (Contributer) was another three-quarters of a length away in third. 

“She seems to be getting better every race and is a filly with a lot of ability,” said winning jockey Shaun McKay

“Ashvin Goindasamy has been riding her but when he stayed up north to ride at Te Rapa I got the call and I was really pleased to take the mount.

“Clint said to me before the race to make sure I got her some cover but to take her wider for her run as she doesn’t like going between horses.

“She relaxed really nicely and when I got her to the middle of the track in the straight, she really showed a turn of foot.

“I’m not sure where she will be going next but Clint told me I could keep the ride so I’m thrilled about that.”

Only Words holds a nomination for the New Zealand 1000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) at Riccarton on November 14 although Isdale, who shares in her ownership, has yet to decide on how he will place her on the way to that target.

“She’s come a long way in a short time and has now had two very tough runs back to back,” he said.

“We were using today’s race as a measure against what we might be up against going forward so to win like she did is very encouraging.

“I think the best thing is to put her in the paddock for ten days and let her get over the run and the trip away and then look at what is available to us.

“There are some nice races down south we could go to before the 1000 Guineas but until she has had a little break, I won’t really know what I want to do.”

Only Words is one of two winners out of the winning Darci Brahma (Danehill) mare Jungle Pago, who is herself a daughter of Group 3 winner Climb The Vine (Chanteclair). 

Further back this is the family of Red Hot Sax (Saxon). 

Sweynesse stands at Novara Park for a fee of NZ$6,000 (plus GST).