Promising filly Tristar (Exceedance) earned herself a slice of history with a stylish victory in the $18,500 NZB Mega Maiden Series (1200m) at Taupo on Friday.
It was the first of 40 maiden races this season in the Mega Maiden Series, which is an exciting new initiative created by NZB in partnership with Entain and New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing. The bonus was struck at the first time of asking by Tristar, whose owners earned a $20,000 bonus while $5,000 went to trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott.
“To win that first bonus is a fantastic result,” Scott said. “We didn’t necessarily target it when we were mapping out a programme for this filly, but to collect that in her first start is a great return and very gratefully received. An initiative like this is a big and very welcome boost for the industry.”
Tristar was bred by Little Avondale Stud and offered in their Book 1 draft at Karaka 2023. The classy filly was bought for $220,000 by Wexford Stables. Tristar races in the blue and yellow colours for owners T C Clarke & C B Jones, Mrs A J Croad, A Cuttance, B R Jary, C B Jones, A & C Marshall & C Weaver.
Friday’s winning debut was a highly impressive performance by Tristar. She settled well back before producing an irresistible finish in the straight for jockey Craig Grylls, storming home out wide and pulling away to win by two lengths.
Tristar is a half-sister to her Group-winning stablemate Karman Line (NZ) (Myboycharlie). Bought by Wexford for $67,500 from Book 2 of Karaka 2020, Karman Line has earned $215,100 from an 18-start career. Her wins include the Group Three Rotorua Stakes (1400m) in May, while she was also a third placegetter in the $1m Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m) in January of 2022.
“One of the reasons we were drawn to this filly at the sales was that connection to Karman Line, who we’ve always had a good opinion of,” Scott said. “Karman Line has just continued to get better with age, and I think it might be a similar story with Tristar. They’re daughters of a young Pierro mare that’s doing a great job.
“Tristar had shown good promise in her trials, and she went into today’s debut with good levels of fitness and education behind her. This was the first time we’ve really let her down, so it was very encouraging to see the turn of foot that she produced. She quickened away well and looks like she has a bit of a future.”
The Wexford team may now give Tristar an opportunity to follow in the footsteps of another former stablemate, Molly Bloom, who was a debut winner at this same Taupo meeting 12 months ago and went on to triumph in the Group One New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton last November.
“Molly won a similar sort of race at this meeting last year, although she probably had a bit more experience than Tristar at the same stage,” Scott said. “But we do think Tristar will only continue to get better through the rest of the spring and into the summer. We’re hoping she’ll have a strong mile in her, and she’s got some nominations for good races, so we’ll see where we end up.”
The Mega Maiden Series is open to all horses eligible for the Karaka Millions Series, with a total of $1m in bonuses up for grabs across the 40 non-Saturday maiden races each season for the next three years.
