5 Mar 2022As the late Tavistock’s final crop prepare to go through the Karaka ring next week, his son Asterix did him proud when he stormed to an upset victory in the G1 New Zealand Derby at Ellerslie.
And in Australia, Bermadez produced another stunning first-up performance when the Tavistock gelding won down the Flemington straight.
It served to emphasise the enormity of the loss of Tavistock and it will be bittersweet for us next week when we present a quality line-up of his youngsters – Lots 20, 22, 67, 443 and 468 - in our Book 1 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale draft.
Asterix settled a clear last before rider Johnathan Parkes got his mount rolling down the side of the track and he swooped around the extreme outside to lodge his bid and then held a strong gallop to score by 1.5l.
“It’s a great team result. All of the staff have worked so hard on this horse,” said co-trainer Andrew Scott.
“We’ve had times where this preparation was nearly gone and we’ve had to do so much work on his feet along the way, but we got here. He was probably the strongest stayer genetically in the field and we are over the moon.”
Bred by Go Bloodstock, Asterix was purchased at Karaka where was offered by Curraghmore and signed for by agent Bruce Perry for $450,000. He has a staying pedigree that features the G1 Sydney Cup winner Mourayan.
Meanwhile, the lightly raced five-year-old, Bermadez is now unbeaten in four appearances when resuming and the winner of five from 10 overall.
The G1 Doncaster Handicap, in which he has only 50kg, is a race that trainer Michael Moroney is keen on for Bermadez.
“He’ll probably run in a mile here next and then maybe we can sneak him into the Doncaster,” he said.
Bermadez settled well back in the running, but when rider Damien Oliver angled him in to the clear he lengthened stride impressively.
“At the halfway mark when they quickened I thought he may get left behind, but he has a great turn of foot, He paraded well and was right in the zone,” Moroney said.
A $280,000 Karaka purchase for the trainer’s brother Paul, Bermadez was bred and sold by Inglewood Stud and is from the family of the multiple Group 1 winner Preferment.