Highly regarded three-year-old Ahuriri has added winning momentum toward a potential Classic target.The Chris Waller-trained daughter of Almanzor is considered a black-type filly in waiting and a step up in distance at Newcastle last time out has further boosted confidence in her future prospects.Ahuriri had placed in two of her four starts before she moved out in trip to 1900 metres and she responded impressively with a runaway victory in the hands of Lee Magorrian.She holds a nomination for the G1 Australian Oaks and has a pedigree to strongly suggest she can add to the family roll of honour at stakes level.Bred by Blandford Lodge principals Graham and Helen-Gaye Bax, Ahuriri was purchased for $210,000 at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale with Waller and Bax Ltd signing the ticket.She is the first winner for the Darci Brahma mare Mackenzie Kate, who is a half-sister to the three-time Group 1 winner Lucia Valentina and the G3 Manawatu Classic winner Malandrino who was also successful in Hong Kong as Best Show.Another heavyweight performer on the pedigree page is Danzdanzdance, who was successful at the elite level in the Zabeel Classic and the Captain Cook Stakes.

Our shuttle stallion Almanzor played a starring role at Taupo with a winning double delivered by a pair of homebreds.Geriatrix took advantage of a drop back in class for a confidence-boosting victory while Bellezor impressively broke her maiden off a lengthy break in the previous event.Trained by Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott, Geriatrix finished powerfully from well back in the field for rider Kozzi Asano to win over 1400 metres and his second success on the course.In a driving finish, the colt got in the deciding stride to beat the Stephen Marsh-prepared Arrowette, a Zoustar mare we also bred and race.Geriatrix had finished fourth in the G3 Wellington Stakes three runs back in November before he was out of the picture in the Karaka Millions, but Scott said he had his excuses.“He didn’t handle the ground there at Ellerslie on Karaka Millions night. He had been away from the races for a fair while too,” he said.We sold Geriatrix at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale at Karaka with agent Bruce Perry signing the ticket at $675,000.He is a son of the Showcasing mare Its Our Showtime, who is a half-sister to the G1 Railway Stakes winner Inspirational Girl and the family of Group winners Demonetization, Midnight Styling, Zingaling and Midnight Blue.Congratulations also go to trainer Paul Richards, who produced Bellezor for a stylish first-up victory over 1400 metres.The four-year-old’s only previous appearance was an unplaced one of the course 11 months ago, but was paraded in forward condition off a trial placing.She settled third last before improving 700 metres from home to corner four wide and then showed sharp acceleration under Matthew Cameron to overpower her rivals.We offered Bellezor via the Gavelhouse platform and she was purchased for $14,500 by part-owner Richards, who races the mare with Group One Developments.A half-sister to the multiple Singapore stakes winner Mr Clint, Bellezor is a daughter of the Zabeel mare Victoria Belle who is a granddaughter of the dual Group One winner Foxwood.We sold Victoria Belle’s colt by Hello Youmzain to Victorian trainer Nigel Blackiston for $200,000 at Karaka last month.

Stable confidence in Almanzor’s daughter Dawla wasn’t misplaced at Newcastle.Trained by Brad Widdup, the four-year-old had been a resuming winner at Wyong last month and she was expected to produce another bold showing over 1200 metres.Our homebred mare drifted to the back of a small field before she was angled into the clear by apprentice Zac Waddick 350 metres from home and lengthened stride effortlessly to come over the top of her rivals.“She had trained on very well and we asked Zac to ride her quietly,” stable representative Andre Rabbett said.“She’s best left to her own devices early and can then really finish off.”Now the winner of three of her 11 starts, Dawla was purchased out of our 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale draft for $70,000 by bloodstock agent Phill Cataldo and Honeycomb Bloodstock.She is out of the unraced Lucky Unicorn mare Satisfact, who is a half-sister to the multiple Group 1-winning siblings St Reims and Champagne, and the family of the two-time New Zealand Horse of the Year and multiple top-flight winner Bonneval.