3 minute read

Aternatin, a product of the NZB National Yearling Sales Series by Showcasing, proved too good for his age group in New Zealand’s final black-type feature of the season, the Listed Ryder Stakes at Awapuni.

Bred and consigned by Rich Hill Stud, Atenartin (Showcasing x Fudge) was a bargain $7000 purchase for Matthew Eales during the Festival session of the 2017 National Yearling Sale Series at Karaka.

He was successful three weeks earlier at Awapuni and lived up to his trainer’s expectations with his winning performance.

The talented gelding never looked like stopping as he charged away to defeat fellow Karaka graduate Mexican Tycoon (O’Reilly) who was bidding to give the Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman stable their 21st stakes winner for the New Zealand season.

Race favourite Tutta La Classe gave her backers plenty of hope when she loomed as a likely prospect at the top of the straight but only battled in the closing stages to finish a well beaten third.

Successful when defeating race rivals Tutta La Classe and Notabadharada at outside odds on the track three weeks earlier, Atenartin lived up to trainer Matthew Eales’ expectations with his winning performance.

“I could see he was travelling quite well and I knew he could handle the track, so I was quite confident,” he said.

“I knew he had improved off his last run as he didn’t have the perfect prep, yet he was still a dominant winner.

“He had really improved in three weeks, so I thought that would count for a lot today.

“To get a black-type win on his home track is great for the owners.”