New Zealand-breds filled the trifecta in the A$300,000 Listed NJC The Beauford (2300m) at Newcastle on Saturday, headed by a career-best performance by Bestower.
Trained locally by Kris Lees, Bestower romped to victory by three lengths to record the first black-type success of her career. It was her fourth win overall from a 35-start career, and she has placed on another 14 occasions and earned A$520,450.
Bestower went into the Beauford having not won a race since December of last year, but she had been a model of consistency in between times with her 10 starts since then producing a second, a third, three fourths, three fifths and a sixth.
The six-year-old was ridden by Tyler Schiller on Saturday and took up a handy position in fourth as fellow Kiwi-bred runner Campaldino led the field along at a good pace.
Schiller allowed Bestower to stride forward out wide coming up to the home turn, and she loomed ominously on the outside coming into the straight.
While Campaldino found himself being challenged on both sides early in the run home, the bigger danger was coming wider out on the track. Bestower cruised past and went clear for a commanding victory.
Former Kiwi galloper Doctor Askar, the winner of the Gr.2 Thorndon Mile (1600m) and Gr.3 Easter Handicap (1600m), produced his best performance on Australian soil to surge through on Campaldino’s inside and finish second. Campaldino held on for third.
“When I peeled out at the 800, I still didn't think she’d sustain it,” Schiller said. “I knew she'd be strong late, but I thought there'd be something that would outstay us in the class. But with the weight, she's done a great job.”
Lees was pleased to deliver a popular local result.
“To win a stakes race with a mare and a Newcastle bunch of owners, they were rapt when we even decided to go this way,” he said.
“We considered a Benchmark 78 next week at Kembla, which she ran second in last year, but we went with the stakes race and gave her a chance in better company, and it's come off nicely for her.
“Tyler and I discussed before the race that she often hits a flat spot, and he was adamant he wanted to get going before that to help her through it. I started to wonder, ‘I hope he hasn't gone too early here.’ But he knew what he was doing. She could have gone another lap.”
Bestower was co-bred by Mapperley Stud and became the 13th individual stakes winner for the stud’s former stallion Contributer. That number increased to 14 less than half an hour later when Concord Connie won the Gr.3 Summoned Stakes (1500m) at Sandown.
The dam of Bestower is the Thorn Park mare Nomisma, who won four races and is a full-sister to the multiple Group winner Sacred Park. Nomisma is the dam of three winners from four foals to race.
Mapperley Stud offered Bestower in Book 1 of Karaka 2022, where Beamish Bloodstock bought her for $50,000. – NZ Racing Desk.
