Imported mare strikes first blow

Imported German racemare Igraine, who was bought as a future broodmare prospect for leading Waikato breeders Trelawney Stud, made a winning start to her local racing career when she won over 1400m Te Rapa on Saturday.

A winner of one race from six starts in Europe, the Galileo mare had impressed when defeating subsequent winner Padraig over 935m at the Cambridge trials back in May.

Given plenty of time to get over that effort, the Robert Priscott-trained runner displayed a fine turn of foot as she raced away in the closing stages of the rating 65 contest to score comfortably by just over two lengths.

Trelawney Stud principal Brent Taylor was quick to congratulate local bloodstock agent Paul Moroney who had been responsible for sourcing the well-bred mare.

“Paul Moroney bought the mare for us in Europe,” he said.

“To be fair it was probably our only chance of owning and racing a Galileo.

“We bought her as a breeding prospect but the brief to Paul was to try and get something that might also be able to race. She had only had a handful of starts and her pedigree suggests she will get over a bit of ground given a bit of time.

“That was our hope anyway although racing is not as straightforward as that, so it is nice when a plan comes off.”

Moroney outlaid 65,000 guineas for the mare at the December Tattersall’s Breeding Stock Sale after she had finished fifth to subsequent American Grade One winner, A Raving Beauty, over 1800m at Listed level in Germany.

A daughter of German Oaks winner Iota, Igraine is a half-sister to Germany’s Group One winner Ito.