Photo: Supplied
Novara Park Stud stallion Sweynesse is enjoying a golden run of late, highlighted by his son Wigmore’s victory in Saturday’s Gr.1 South Australian Derby (2500m) at Morphettville.
The Karlene Murdoch and Shirley M Trust-bred gelding has flown under the radar this season but showed his potential when running fourth in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie in March for former trainer Caley Myers.
He was subsequently purchased by trans-Tasman syndicator OTI Racing and he has been entrusted to the care of Adelaide horseman Phillip Stokes, for whom Wigmore finished midfield in his Australian debut in the Gr.3 Chairman’s Stakes (2000m) on ANZAC Day before causing a boilover with his Derby heroics on Saturday as 51-1 outsider.
Novara Park Stud principal Luigi Muollo was rapt with the win, with Wigmore becoming Sweynesse’s second elite-level victor, joining four-time Group One winner Lucky Sweynesse.
“I am over the moon, it was a really great result,” Muollo said.
“He has always shown plenty of ability here in New Zealand and I thought he was possibly unlucky in the (New Zealand) Derby in the sense of how he ran home, there were a few protests in that Derby this year.”
Wigmore’s weekend victory continues a series of pleasing results for Sweynesse of late, both in New Zealand and abroad.
His three-year-old daughter Miss Starlight has been a consistent performer for trainers John and Karen Parsons this season, winning the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) before placing in the Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1400m), Listed Gore Guineas (1200m) and Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1600m), with her results securing her the NZB Southern Filly of the Year Series crown.
His son Sweynesday has continued his meteoric rise among New Zealand’s sprinting ranks, with the Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained gelding in line for a Queensland campaign following his placing in the Gr.1 Railway (1200m) and last start victory in the Gr.3 King’s Plate (1200m).
And in Hong Kong, Lucky Sweynesse has long been Sweynesse’s flagbearer, and he returned to winning form at Sha Tin last month when taking out the Gr.2 Chairman’s Trophy (1600m) before he was luckless in the Gr.1 Champions Mile (1600m).
“I am rapt for Sweynesse,” Muollo said. “Miss Starlight had a fantastic season and Sweynesday is probably close to being New Zealand’s best sprinter, he was the first New Zealand horse home in the Railway behind Jigsaw and Arkansaw Kid, and Jigsaw has gone on with it in Australia (subsequently winning the Gr.1 William Reid Stakes and A$5 million Quokka).”
Wigmore’s victory on Saturday brought back fond memories for Muollo, whose homebred Explosive Jack won the 2021 edition of the South Australian Derby, adding to his Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m) and Listed Tasmanian Derby (2200m) triumphs before he ran third in the Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m).
“I did it with Explosive Jack, we had won three Derbys and then he came third (in the Queensland Derby),” Muollo said. “It will be interesting to see whether Wigmore goes to the Queensland Derby or they pull up stumps and go to the Melbourne Cup (Gr.1, 3200m) because I think he has got that type of pedigree.”
Buoyed by Sweynesse’s recent success, Muollo believes the best is still ahead of him and said he offers tremendous value to breeders.
“There is more ahead of him, he is a strong stallion and he is only 14, so he is still relatively young,” he said.
“We will announce our service fees later this week, but he will be at a similar service fee to last year, which is good value when you think about what you get for your money at $7,000.”
Meanwhile, Muollo said Novara Park’s latest addition to their stallion roster, The Foxes, has garnered plenty of attention from breeders.
A multiple Group Two winner and Group One performer, The Foxes is a half-brother to Group One winner Matterhorn, Group Two winner Bangkok, Group Three winner Tactic, and Murjah, the dam of four-time Group One winner and now Hanui Farm shuttle stallion Ribchester.
“He has been really well received,” Muollo said. “To have a stallion like that with one dam on the page is great.”
The Foxes will stand for an introductory fee of $10,000+GST.
