Guineas Glory for Tell a Tale
15th November 2008
Progressive gelding Tell a Tale (3g Tale of the Cat x Cheeky Veronika, by Sir Tristram) stamped himself as New Zealand’s best three year-old with a thrilling win in the Group One NZ 2,000 Guineas at Riccarton on Saturday.
Slowly away, Tell a Tale charged home to take the 1600 metre classic by a head over last season’s star filly Il Quello Veloce with Minstrel Court (3c Danehill Dancer x Tregurrian, by Rory's Jester) more than a length back in third place.
“He missed the jump, and at the 300 I said no, but he is a very good horse, and it was an incredible performance," said senior part-owner Bill Galvin in his post race-comments.
Purchased by David Ellis for $125,000 from the Coolmore draft at the 2007 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.
Mr Galvin praised his good mate and leading New Zealand agent David Ellis for his foresight when buying Tell a Tale as a yearling.
“David told me from the Gold Coast Sale 'I have bought you a Guineas horse', and so it has proved,” he added.
Trainer Mark Walker said he would be considering pressing on to the NZ$2.2 million Group One New Zealand Derby at Ellerslie.
"His dam is by Sir Tristram, anything is possible," he said.
Tell a Tale has been rare form this spring winning three of four starts having already tasted stakes success in the Group Two Hawkes Bay Guineas and Listed Canterbury Stakes, his overall record staning at four wins and two placings from seven starts with earnings of $702,900.
Tell a Tale becomes the fourth Group One winner worldwide Tale of the Cat and his second in Australasia having had earlier success with the former top sprinting mare Glamour Puss.
Having missed most of last season in Australia due to a premature return to the US resulting from EI, Tale of the Cat is currently back in the Hunter Valley at a fee of $33,000 standing alongside his Group One winning sire son Lion Heart.
