Burgundy resumes with stakes success
New Zealand’s Group 1 summer sprints are the targets for Burgundy, the handsome 4YO son of Redoute’s Choice who resumed today with victory in the Levin S. LR over 1200 metres at Otaki.
Pictured: New Zealand colt Burgundy seen here as a 3YO in the spring of 2011. (PHOTO: Courtesy of Te Akau Racing)
He is the 9th stakeswinner for his champion sire this season, and the third in New Zealand, following the successes of 3YO fillies Pure Elegance and Abidewithme.
Burgundy won five of his 8 starts last season, including the Cambridge Breeders’ S. G3 and the ARC Mr Tiz Trophy LR. The Railway S. G1 at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day and the Telegraph H. G1 at Trentham 18 days later are now his major goals.
His trainer Jason Bridgman told The Informant before today’s race, “It would be a big ask to go fresh-up into the Railway having not run since April so this is a nice spot to kick off.
“It just takes a bit of the pressure off…Running in this one also gives him a month to get over the trip and he should come on immensely from it.”
Burgundy was bred by Philip and Peter Vela from their wonderful mare Grand Echezeaux (by Zabeel), which makes him a three-quarter brother to Group 1 winner and leading young New Zealand sire Darci Brahma (by Danehill). He was purchased for $1.3 million by David Ellis from the Pencarrow Stud draft at the 2010 New Zealand Premier Sale and is raced by the Te Akau 2010 Breeding Syndicate.
Redoute’s Choice has four yearlings catalogued for the 2013 New Zealand Premier Sale, and 13 on offer at the Magic Millions Sale, including three colts and a filly in the Arrowfield draft .
