Trans-Tasman Stakes Double for Tale of the Cat
4th October 2008
Accomplished shuttle sire Tale of the Cat was in winning form on Saturday with Real Saga (2c Tale of the Cat x Windy Kate, by Air Express) taking the Listed AJC Breeders’ Plate at Randwick and Tell a Tale (3g Tale of the Cat x Cheeky Veronika, by Sir Tristram) successful in the Group Two Hawkes Bay Guineas in New Zealand.A runaway winner at his only previous barrier trial on September 19, the John Hawkes (now officially training in partnership with his sons Wayne and Michael) trained colt travelled in fourth place before diving through a gap after straightening to dash clear of Winter King (2c One Cool Cat x Something Special, by Bletchingly) and take the 1000 metre scamper by more than two lengths.
“He hit the line really well,” Hawkes said.
“He just sharpened a little bit since the trial. He’s a real professional and has been from day one.
“He loves to race this horse, I’m sure he’s got a lot more good races in him.”
Retained to race by his breeders, Real Saga is the only foal of the stakes-placed Air Express mare Windy Kate, who died in 2007.
Australian bred gelding Tell a Tale provided Mark Walker with another feature race winner when he landed his first Black Type success in the Group Two Hawkes Bay Guineas over 1400 metres.
Tell a Tale did best in a driving finish to beat last season’s Group One winning juvenile Fully Fledged by half a neck taking his overall record to two wins and two placings from five starts.
"It was a big effort second up, all credit to Troy (Harris, rider) he rode a good race," said Mark Walker, who indicated Tell a Tale would be aiming towards the Group One New Zealand 2000 Guineas in November.
Purchased by David Ellis for $125,000 from the Coolmore draft at the Magic Millions National Yearling sale, Tell a Tale is from the Sir Tristram mare Cheeky Veronika, a half-sister to stakes-winner Kidlat from the Group Three winning mare Our Libra Lady.
Cheeky Veronika has a yearling colt by Snippetson that was bought by astute agent Paul Willetts for $36,000 at the Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale and has since been exported to New Zealand where he will be offered at Karaka next year.
Real Saga and Tell a Tale are the 50th and 51st stakes-winners for prolific sire Tale of the Cat, who has added a new string to his bow this year as a sire of sires through his promising son Lion Heart (USA), currently the leading freshman sire in North America.
