TRANS TASMAN WINNERS: No Stopping Him

Winning a special race, Cease And Desist (4 g Zoustar – No Evidence Needed, by Shamardal) obliged second-up in the $18,500 Donaghys Butch Coombe Memorial Cup Rating 60 1600 metres on 21 October at Te Aroha.

Former Club President, Coombe was a larger-than-life character in the community, and his wife Heather along with committee members were on course to honour him.

A half-brother to Te Akau purchased and trained Group One winner Move To Strike (I Am Invincible), Cease And Desist recorded his Maiden victory over 1600 metres on the home track at Matamata, and resumed there in the Rating 65 1400 metres on 3 October.

Improved for the run and drawn barrier one, Cease And Desist began well to lead before being briefly headed, but was soon back in front, appeared to travel best turning for home, and won comfortably after putting a handy buffer on the field mid-straight.

Rider Opie Bosson ONZM said Cease And Desist wanted to lead and he went with him.

“I had to let him run and couldn’t stop him from wanting to be in front,” Bosson said.

“I took a sit and he had other plans, but he was okay once he got to the front again. I still had quite a good hold of him on straightening up and he just has to learn to settle that little bit better in order to go on with it.”

On Soft5 footing, Cease And Desist ran 1600 metres in 1:40.5, last 600m in 35.9, and paid $2.60 & $1.30 on the NZ TAB tote.

“Nice to see him back in the winner’s circle again, today, and back to Rating 60 was a drop in grade,” said Mark Walker, training partner with Sam Bergerson, after Cease And Desist the 18th win for Te Akau this month.

“He was well handled by Opie (Bosson) in what was a muddling run race, but he’s a big, strong, horse and hopefully that win gives him confidence.

“Hopefully this season will see him get up to higher grades. He’s certainly a good-looking horse, well related, and although still doing a few things wrong, wanting to overdo it, he’s got another win on the board.

“Also good to see Opie back riding winners. He’s been working hard riding a lot of work and should be in for a good Summer.”

On course, assistant trainer Reece Trumper added: “It was a bit of an awkward watch and he had to work, but Opie let him roll and he put them away quite easily.

“We’ve had horses drop back to Rating 60 grade and then climb up again after getting a win. He’ll go to Rating 65 grade, so hopefully we can place him to get another win.”

Owned by the Te Akau Closing Argument Racing Partnership (Mgr: Lady Karyn Ellis MNZM), Cease And Desist was purchased by Sir David Ellis at the 2024 Gold Coast National Yearling Sale, from the draft of Baramul Stud.

From the same stud, Ellis bought his half-brother Move To Stike (I Am Invincible) in 2023 at the Gold Coast, and he vindicated the impressiveness of a five-length debut victory when brilliantly winning the Group 1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m).

By Australian Champion Sire Zoustar (Northern Meteor), his dam No Evidence Needed won six races – including four successively – from 1200m – 1600m, including the Group 2 Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m) at Flemington, Group 2 Southern Cross Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill, and was twice Group One placed: one of those in the Group 1 Schwepps Oaks (2000m) at Morphettville.

She was regarded as a big, game filly that possessed a good turn of foot, and to date she has left seven individual winners of 27 races, including Group One winner Move To Strike and Group Two placed Discharged (Snitzel).

Dam sire Shamardal (Giant’s Causeway), once third in the TRC Global World Sire Rankings, has left 26 Group One winners worldwide, and is establishing himself as a broodmare sire of the highest calibre.

Shamardal is also the dam sire of Imperatriz (I Am Invincible), whom Sir David purchased as a yearling and the World Champion Sprinter and Horse of the Year won 10 Group One races.

The second dam Generosa is by Group 1 Epsom Derby (2400m) winner Generous (Caerleon), who added plenty of impetus when standing in New Zealand, while the third dam is by legendary sire Danehill (Danzig).

“He’s only lightly raced, winning twice and placed a couple of times from nine starts, but the team has been patient with him and he certainly improved second-up today,” Sir David said.

“He’s obviously very well related, being a half-brother to Move To Strike, and was a great looking colt as a yearling, so let’s hope he can keep progressing.

“The dam, No Evidence Needed, is a great producer and seeing this gelding win twice at a mile suggests he might stretch out over a bit further. He went through the line well and there’s a bit of stamina on the dam side too.”

Cease And Desist carries bloodline crosses to two of the most influential stallions of all-time: Mr Prospector, and Danehill.

Cease And Desist was strapped by Hayley Hassman. 

Photo credit - Kenton Wright - www.raceimages.co.nz