The Kiwis made an early impression at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day, with the Liam Howley-trained Opening Address carrying Windsor Park Stud’s silks to victory in the Listed TAB Trophy (1800m).
It was a great win for jockey James McDonald going someway towards the disappointment of not having a Melbourne Cup ride.
“He was either going to go to the Derby or to this race, and we could ride him in this race if he started here, so it worked out really well. Obviously, we’ve got good connections with the Schick family (Windsor Stud), and I grew up right next door (in Cambridge), so nice to get a winner on such a big day.”
Bred by Ben Kwok, Opening Address was foaled at the Cambridge farm and was offered through their 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft where he was bought by Howley, in partnership with bloodstock agents Andrew Williams and Bevan Smith, for $160,000.
“He was a magnificent foal,” Windsor Park Stud General Manager Steve Till said. “He was a very well-made individual and by yearling sale time he was very robust. The mare is a very strongly made mare and he copped a good amount of that. He was a lovely individual, a medium-sized horse with a great attitude.”
Jockey James McDonald of Cambridge.
Both Kwok and Windsor Park opted to buy back into Opening Address, which has proven to be a master stroke, with the now gelding showing plenty talent on the track.
The son of So You Think was victorious at his second start before placing at Sale over 1740m, and was then runner-up to Red Aces in the Gr.2 Drummond Golf Vase (2040m) at The Valley last month.
Initially set to tackle last Saturday’s Gr.1 Victoria Derby (2500m), Howley opted to bypass the Classic in favour of the TAB Trophy, and his decision paid off for his connections.
“He is a very smart horse and all credit to Liam Howley,” Till said.
“We had him nominated for the Derby and he ran a really good race in his last start in a three-year-old stakes race at The Valley. Liam felt a few days after the race that the horse was still green and learning his craft, and the Derby might be a step too far at this early stage of his career.
“He picked this race out for him, and he has executed it.”
While thrilled to see Windsor Park’s colours to the fore on Melbourne Cup Day, Till was more rapt for breeder Ben Kwok, who has formed a strong relationship with the Cambridge farm.
“That was a massive win for Ben Kwok, who bred him,” Till said.
“He is a champion guy, a great supporter of the industry, particularly with us. He shares in the ownership of our stallion Profondo as well. He has got a large broodmare band here in New Zealand and he supports quite a number of trainers here as well. He loves New Zealand and the horses.”
Till said Kwok now has a valuable broodmare on his hands following Opening Address’s win.
“Royal Welcome, the mother, is an imported Kingman mare that Ben bought,” Till said. “She has got a lovely European family behind her, and he has now got a very valuable mare in his significant portfolio of mares here at Windsor Park. We could not have a better partner in the bloodstock that we share together.
“We just tested her (Royal Welcome) in-foal to (resident stallion) Paddington, so that is going to be a lot to look forward to.”
Opening Address is also a sentimental favourite for Windsor Park, with his sire So You Think having been co-bred by farm marketing manager Michael Moran, foaled and raised at the farm, and sold through their New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sale draft.
“To have that connection as well is awesome,” Till said.
“He (Opening Address) has lived up to his very good genetics and he looks a very smart horse in the making for us.”
Buoyed by the win, Till is looking forward to offering Opening Address’s Circus Maximus half-brother on behalf of Kwok at Karaka in January.
“The Circus Maximus half-brother is on track for the yearling sales,” Till said. “He is a very similar individual in terms of type. He is going to attract a lot of attention.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
Kiwi-bred three-year-old Opening Address and jockey James McDonald winning the Listed TAB Trophy (1800m) on Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington.
Photo: Bruno Cannatelli
Opening Address makes Cup day statement
The Listed TAB Trophy (1800m) on Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington has been a good race for emerging Kiwi-breds, and Opening Address(NZ) (So You Think) continued that trend in the A$175,000 feature on Tuesday.
Last year’s edition of the three-year-old race was won by Warmonger, who was having just the third start of his career. That son of War Decree went on to win the Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m) by 10 lengths in June, and he was also runner-up in the Gr.1 South Australian Derby (2500m).
Opening Address, meanwhile, was bred by Ben Kwok and races in the colours of part-owners Windsor Park Stud. The son of So You Think was a maiden winner in his second start in September, then stepped on to the black-type stage with a promising second in the Gr.2 Moonee Valley Vase (2040m) on October 26.
Trainer Liam Howley had the option of taking a shot at the big time in the Gr.1 Victoria Derby (2500m) on Saturday, but he favoured a more patient approach and was rewarded with black-type success three days later.
Rider James McDonald had Opening Address stalking the leader up to the home turn, then pushed the button and went to the lead.
Challengers lined up across the track and briefly looked like they might swamp the favourite, but Opening Address changed gears in the final 200m and kicked away again. He still had three-quarters of a length up his sleeve when he reached the finish line.
“It was nice to get the phone call to ride this horse,” McDonald said. “He was either going to go to the Derby or this race, and I could ride him if he started here, so it worked out really well. Obviously we’ve got good connections with the Schick family and Windsor Park Stud, and I grew up right next door, so it’s nice to get a winner for them on such a big day.
“This horse is still learning his craft. He’s probably a bit better than that. He’s only scratching the surface. He just felt like he had plenty in the tank, and he was never going to get beaten from the 400m onwards. Even though they probably looked like they would come at him, he was holding them at bay.
“He’s just got raw ability, and what he’s doing now is just a bonus, because as a four-year-old, he’ll come into his own.”
Opening Address has now had five starts for two wins, two placings and A$198,900 in stakes. He was bought for $160,000 by Liam Howley Racing, Andrew Williams Bloodstock and Bevan Smith Bloodstock at Karaka 2023.
“Just a really proud day, to be honest,” Howley said. “Proud of the team at home. They’ve done a super job.
“I thought his run in the Vase was enormous. He seemed to get forgotten out of it, because we didn’t go to the Derby, but he freshened up really well and the team’s done a super job with him. So I’m very proud.
“Just walking in today was pretty exciting, especially having J-Mac on. For my family and all the friends who have supported the journey, it’s just exciting. The amount of messages this morning was unbelievable, so to get a win like that with a nice horse is pretty special.
“He’ll head straight to the paddock now. He’s done. Five runs in, and we avoided the Derby – we wanted to look after him, and he’s returned the favour, so off to the paddock and back for a big autumn hopefully.”
Opening Address is the first foal out of the Kingman mare Royal Welcome, who is a half-sister to the British stakes winners Haddaf and Lamar. Royal Welcome was bought by Kwok’s Lionrock Bloodstock for A$120,000 from the 2021 Inglis Sydney Broodmare Sale.
