Almanzor mare impresses at Matamata

The well-related Thooza turned her fortunes around at Matamata where she returned to winning ways over 1400 metres for the fourth victory of her career.

Trained for us by Tony Pike, the Almanzor four-year-old was luckless at her previous outing at Te Rapa after contacting the barrier at the start and also lost a plate during the race.

Thooza made a clean start this time for apprentice Sam McNab to lead early before settling in the trail and finished resolutely once into the clear 250 metres from home.

“She’s a progressive mare and will get up in trip in the future, a mile should be perfect,” Pike said.

“She’s a more mature mare now and still improving, next season she should get to black type level.”

We purchased Thooza from breeder The Oaks Stud’s draft at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale for $155,000.

She is out of the Darci Brahma mare Sea Goddess, who is a daughter of the former top-class mare and multiple Group 1 winer Seachange.

It is also the family of the G1 Levin Classic winner Keepa Cruisin and G2 Alister Clark Stakes winner and G1 New Zealand Derby runner-up Antrim Coast.

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