A decade after winning his hometown Cup with Maygrove (Authorized), prominent Wellington owner Lib Petagna was back in the spotlight again on Trentham’s biggest day of the year on Saturday.
Petagna’s JML Bloodstock colours were carried to victory by emerging three-year-old Ballon d’Or (NZ) (U S Navy Flag), who upstaged a highly rated line-up in the Harcourts (1200m) on the Wellington Cup undercard.
The countdown to Saturday’s three-year-old sprint was dominated by Komocean (NZ) (Ocean Park), who had made a big impression winning both of her first two starts including a two-length defeat of Ballon d’Or over the same course and distance on December 21. But the tables were emphatically turned in Saturday’s rematch.
While $2.10 favourite Komocean set herself a daunting task with a costly slow start, Ballon d’Or and jockey Rory Hutchings took up an ideal position in third behind Keret (NZ) (Darci Brahma)i and Stone The Crows (NZ) (Charm Spirit).
Hutchings slid through along the inside in Kereti’s slipstream as the field came across the junction on to the course proper. Kereti found another kick at the 250m mark and took some catching, but Ballon d’Or warmed into his work and strode past that rival in the closing stages to win by three-quarters of a length. Albarossa (Vino Rosso) finished third, two and a half lengths behind the first pair.
“They don’t come much easier than that,” said Hutchings, who completed an early double on Wellington Cup Day when he won the next race on the card with Slipper Island.
“Ballon d’Or has been very consistent and deserved to get a good win down here today.
“I felt we were always in control of the race. Coming on to the course proper, I knew that he was ready to let go. He just doesn’t like to be in front for too long, so I had to time it right. I left it as late as I could before going for the whip, and there was an instant response when I did.”
Ballon d’Or is by The Oaks Stud stallion U S Navy Flag out of the Irish-bred Fastnet Rock mare Ireland’s Teardrop. Herself a winner over 2500m, Ireland’s Teardrop is the dam of five winners including the Gr.3 Taranaki 2YO Classic (1200m) and Listed Wellesley Stakes (1000m) placegetter Last Sight (NZ) (Showcasing).
Bred by the late Kevin Hickman, Ballon d’Or was offered by Valachi Downs at the 2022 National Weanling Sale at Karaka and was bought for $50,000 by Petagna’s bloodstock agent Bruce Perry.
Ballon d’Or has had 10 starts for two wins, five placings and $77,205 in stakes. His placings include highly creditable efforts behind the likes of NZB Kiwi (1500m) contender Sought After (NZ) (Tivaci) and Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) placegetter Domain Ace (NZ) (Swiss Ace).
Ballon d’Or is trained by the Matamata father-son team of Peter and Shaun McKay, who have now had seven winning raids on Trentham during their three seasons in partnership.
“That was a good win today, although it didn’t exactly go to plan,” Shaun McKay said. “I told Rory before the race that we might hopefully end up just behind the favourite, but we ended up flying the gates while she missed it.
“Rory gave him a gun ride and got him to settle well. He can ease up a little bit when he hits the front, but luckily the leader gave him something to chase for quite a long way.
“He’s slowly learning and I think he’ll get better and better. I’m not sure where he’ll get to distance-wise. We thought he might be a mile-plus type of horse, but he’s shown good ability down the chute today. Maybe we’ll keep him to 1200m to 1400m. But he’s got another win on the board now and is progressing well.
“I really like the stallion, U S Navy Flag. He hasn’t quite had a big horse or Group One winner yet, but I’m sure it’ll come.”
