5 Matamata Wins - No.2 Hurrah Hayate

Natural ability shone through when Hayate (3 f Maurice - Vamoose, by Admire Moon) produced a winning debut in the $12,000 NZB Insurance Pearl Series Maiden Fillies & Mares 1200 metres (eligible $11,500 bonus) on 13 May at Matamata.

Although bred on the dam side to get further than 1200 metres, Hayate had indicated her readiness at the trials when quickening through late for third over 950 metres on 26 April at Cambridge (poly-track), and benefitted from a positive ride by premiership leading Te Akau apprentice Joe Kamaruddin.

With gate speed to situate second on the outer at the 800m, Hayate quickened to an advantage on straightening, found two lengths to the 200m and kept giving to prevail by a short neck.

“I wanted to be one out and one back, but Plan B was outside the leader,” Kamaruddin said. “She travelled well and finished really well.”

On Soft5 footing, Hayate ran 1200 metres in 1:11.2, last 600m in 35.9, and paid $10.60 & $3.25 on TAB tote.

“It was a good ride by Joe and he took bad luck out of the equation,” said trainer Mark Walker. “She's always been pretty shin sore, and probably will be again tonight, so we were touch and go getting her here today, and she'll go out for a spell now with a win under her belt.

“She'll be right with a bit more time and could stretch over longer distances.”

Owned by Fortuna Hayate Syndicate (Mgr: John Galvin), Hayate was bought for $80,000 by Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM at the 2021 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Mapperley Stud.

At the time of purchase, Ellis said: “The dam, Vamoose, is a half-sister to the Caulfield Cup (Gr. 1, 2400m) winner Admire Rakti (Heart's Cry). It's some of the best blood in the world and Maurice was a champion racehorse.”

She is by Arrowfield shuttle stallion and first season sire Maurice (Screen Hero), the 2015 Japanese Horse of the Year and both Champion Sprinter and Champion Miler, and now one of the hottest young sires in Japan.

“Well done to David Ellis and Jamie Richards who picked this filly out for us,” Galvin said. “When we bought her, Maurice was a first season sire and now he's more than hit his straps in Australia and Japan.

“It's lovely to get the Pearl Series bonus on top of the prize money at an industry day race meeting.

“It was a good ride by Joe (Kamaruddin) to put her in a handy spot and she was good enough to stay on and win.

“That's the second winner we've had with Mark (Walker) since he's been back, after Soprano Supreme won at Rotorua.

“It was a good effort by Hayate to win on debut, especially coming up against rivals with race experience and reasonable form.

“It's never easy to do that and certainly shows that she's got ability. We saw that in her trials and you can almost bet your bottom dollar that they can do that eventually in their racing careers. Not always, but if you trial well it generally shows that you're capable of winning.”

Hayate was strapped by Molly Whiteford.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz