11 Dec 2008
(BY PHILLIP QUAY)
Regally-bred
Lovetrista (Rock Of Gibraltar x Tristalove), part-owned by Sir Patrick and Lady Justine Hogan of Cambridge Stud, returned to her best form to win the Group 2 $135,000 Waikato Times Gold Cup (2400m) at Te Rapa on Saturday.
Lovetrista came with a withering finish in the home straight to grab the lead 150m from the finish and go on to score a comfortable 1 1/4 length victory. It provided Sir Patrick with another memorable racing success as an owner.
Lovetrista looked very promising earlier in her racing career when she recorded Listed race wins as a three-year-old in the Solilquy Stakes at Ellerslie and the James and Annie Sarten Memorial at Te Rapa.
However, she was then badly galloped on in the 2007 Group 1 New Zealand One Thousand Guineas at Riccarton and took a long time to get over those injuries.
Lovetrista has recently undergone chiropractic treatment which has worked the oracle, according to her trainer John Sargent.
Sir Patrick had not previously had a runner in a Waikato Cup. He is a life member of the Te Rapa-based Waikato Racing Club.
Lovetrista's dam, Tristalove, is a daughter of Sir Tristram and was a dual Group 1 winner with these successes coming in the AJC Sires' Produce Stakes and Australasian Oaks.
She is also the dam of the Group 1 winner Viking Ruler, who now stands at Cambridge Stud, the Group 2 winner Kempinsky and the Listed race winner Diamond Like.
Sir Patrick races Lovetrista in partnership with New Zealand Rugby Union chairman, and former All Black, Jock Hobbs, along with New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing chairman Guy Sargent and Graeme Jackson.