REAL TORQUE DELIVERS, HALF-BROTHER DOES SAME IN USA
Real Torque edged a step closer to the $22,000 Alabar Sires Stakes 3YO Fillies Series Heat at Auckland on December 11 with a comfortable front-running win at Alexandra Park on Friday, November 20.
Along with stablemate, Northern Velocity, who tired after moving up parked over the final lap in a stronger C2 & faster fillies and mares pace last Friday, the stablemates will try to qualify for the $150,000 final at Auckland on December 31.
Well-rated by trainer Mark Jones, Real Torque furthered a useful record at Alexandra Park, scoring her third win there.
Real Torque, notched her third win from just seven starts when successful at Alexandra Park on Friday, November 20.
Given an easy time in front, the Real Desire-Club Sport filly was too good over her last 800m in 57.6s and final 400m in 28.5s, rating a moderate 2:04 for the full 2200m.
Meanwhile, at Yonkers Raceway, New York, on Monday (NZ time), her well-performed older half-brother Statesman notched his fifth win of the year from 27 starts for trainer Ron Burke.
Statesman, a former useful NZ performer, winning nine for Tony Herlihy, has taken a 1:50.4 North American mark and his career earnings now exceed $500,000.
The win by the now 8YO Christian Cullen-Club Sport gelding on Monday lifted his yearly earnings past the $US100,000 mark.
Statesman won in 1:54.1 (fifth) on the half-mile Yonkers track in a $US20,000 pace for non-winners of $US18,000 in their last five starts.
He proved too strong for Shadow Place and front-running ex-Kiwi Regulus.
The performances of Statesman in America and another half-brother Calais, in Perth, have enhanced the value of Real Torque, a former moderate $10,000 buy at the Australasian Classic Yearling Sales.
Calais, sold unraced as a 2YO out of the Cran Dalgety stable, has won four of 19 West Australian starts and taken a 1:55.3 mile rate record over 1730m at Gloucester Park.
Real Torque is also a half-sister to other winners in Monaro (seven wins, 1:58.5), Imperative (two NZ wins, 1:55.1, US) and minor winner Jilletto.
An unraced half-sister in Karlysia has left the handy northern winner Majestic John, twice a winner in 12 starts.