Blood Brotha scores in New Zealand Cup

14th Nov 2011

Wanganui trainer Raymond Connors and his father Mark know only once place to source their distance horses and that’s at White Robe Lodge at Wingatui. 

They have enjoyed an outstanding run of success through the years with the staying breds the Anderton family are renowned for producing and Blood Brotha (NZ) (Danzighill) is the latest shining example. 

The six-year-old returned to his South Island roots again to finish fourth in the Listed Metropolitan Trophy and seven days later on Saturday a long-term plan was realised when he was victorious in the Group Three New Zealand Cup, having run sixth in the 2010 edition.                                                     

“He raced three weeks in a row last year and I think that affected him in the cup,” Raymond Connors said. “It’s awesome and this time we backed him up twice and it’s worked out perfectly.”

Connors knows the family of Blood Brotha (NZ) well, as the gelding is out of a half-sister to a former stable star in King Johny (NZ) (Seasoned Star).

Despite an injury-plagued career, he won the Group Three Manawatu Classic and placed in both the New Zealand and Australian Derbys.

It was aboard another White Robe-bred that in 1998 Connors showed both his training and riding expertise when he won the Great Northern and Waikato Steeplechases with Our Jonty (NZ) (Random Chance).

Those efforts were surpassed by the Anderton-bred Hypnotize (NZ) (Yamanin Vital) who Connors prepared to win the Great Northern Steeples double in 2007, 2008 and 2010 and finished runner-up in 2009.

The champion jumper, who also won three Pakuranga Hunt Cups, was a courageous third in the Ellerslie event in his farewell performance last year and is now living out his retirement at White Robe Lodge.

“We’ve had a lot of success with the Anderton family and it’s great to win it for them and that’s why we keep going back there,” Connors said. “We like the staying horses and if they can’t do it on the flat we jump them.”

Blood Brotha (NZ) settled in the body of the field on Saturday before rider James McDonald improved across the top and in a dour struggle down the straight the Anderton staying blood was to the fore as they held a neck advantage on the post.

“He’s is a wonderful jockey and it’s a great advantage to have had him,” Connors said. 

Blood Brotha (NZ) downed a game The Jungle Boy (NZ) (Jungle Pocket) who tended to be a touch wayward under pressure for rider Jason Collett. Collett had also finished a close second aboard Abeautifulred (NZ) in the New Zealand Bloodstock 1000 Guineas.

Third home was The Hand Of Faith (NZ) (Danske) who was brave after going to the front a distance from home and Yours (NZ) (Van Nistelrooy) improved one place on his 2010 performance to finish fourth.