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New Zealand bred gallopers were to the fore at Pakenham on Thursday night, headed by Tuahine who produced a dazzling display to score over 1200m in her Australian debut.
The lightly-tried filly placed once from two appearances for Jamie Richards before transferring to Lindsay Park and brothers Ben and JD Hayes had the first-up winning polish on the daughter of Iffraaj following a four-month break.
The beautifully-bred Tuahine settled toward the back of the field on the rail and rider Michael Dee was able to get her off the fence before the turn. The filly lengthened stride in style to power away and put nearly three lengths on her closest chaser at the post.
"She gave me no trouble at all and travelled into it perfectly and she did the rest," Dee said.
"With the feel that she gave me in the last furlong, she'll definitely go on with it. She won with a lot of authority."
Raced by Brendan and Jo Lindsay of Cambridge Stud, Tuahine was purchased out of Haunui Farm's draft at New Zealand Bloodstock's National Yearling Sale for $400,000 and she is the first foal of the Listed Murdoch Newell Stakes (1100m) winner Talaria, a daughter of O'Reilly.
Talaria is a sister to the Gr.1 Doncaster Handicap (1600m) winner and sire Brutal and comes from the family of the Gr.2 Matamata Breeders' Stakes (1200m) winner Te Akau Rose and the Gr.3 Thoroughbred Club Stakes (1200m) winner Cavalry Rose.
Earlier on the card promising staying three-year-old Rigoletto broke maiden ranks for trainer Gavin Bedgood, coming from off the speed to wear down his rivals at start number three.
The son of Tavistock was purchased for a modest $7,000 in the Book 2 session in the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales and is raced by John Fiteni and Kathy Stewart in partnership with Aveael Webb.
"Ten furlongs or a mile and a half will definitely be his go," Bedgood said. "He has made really good improvement at each start to date and he is a nice stayer in the making.
"He came to us and he was pretty raw. Well done to John and Kathy, they're nice patient owners and it is good to get a result for them."
Another Kiwi bred three-year-old to break maiden ranks was New Jersey, a son of Vadamos who scored over 1400m for Mike Moroney on debut.
An impressive physical, New Jersey was purchased by Paul Moroney for $330,000 at Karaka 2020 from the draft of Valachi Downs and is out of the Pivotal mare Surooh, with the third dam the champion Salsabil, who as a Guineas and Oaks winner became the first filly for ninety years to win the Irish Derby.
"He's a lovely horse. He trailed up really nicely and came to the races in good shape, but with an opinion that he would definitely do better with time and a bit more maturity," winning jockey Jamie Mott said.
"When I angled out into the clear he did get very lost but the main thing was he did respond to riding.
"He has got a nice future, especially with another prep under his belt and over a bit further."
