Napatap becomes Patapan’s first Stakes Winner

14th Nov 2011

Nick and Anne-Marie King enjoyed a double celebration when they cheered home the first winner at the weekend for their resident sire Patapan (Stravinsky), which also happened to be a stakes success.

The Brighthill Farm principals played a starring role in the victory of Napatap (NZ) as the husband and wife combination also bred and sold Saturday’s Listed Welcome Stakes winner.

“It was a terrific result and it’s fantastic for the sire to start off with a stakes winner in November,” Nick King said.

“He was a very good two-year-old himself and it’s quite satisfying because we’ve always promoted him off that, so it’s nice to see it coming to fruition.”

Napatap (NZ) had finished runner-up in two of his previous three appearances and has shown early dash despite his late foaling date.

“He’s interesting because he hasn’t turned two yet as a November 25 foal,” King said. “He’s out of a Manntari mare so that might have helped him to handle the off track as well.”

Napatap (NZ) was sold for NZ$6,000 through Brighthill’s Festival Sale draft at Karaka earlier this year. “He was a little bit small and a chestnut so some may have been a bit unsure about him. Paul (Harris) liked him and didn’t have to pay much and bought him with confidence so that’s great.”

The colt is from a family that features the Group Two New Zealand Stakes winner Sequita (NZ) (Sovereign Edition) as his four fourth dam and she in turn produced the Group Two Frank Packer Plate and Group Two Prime Minister’s Cup winner Never Quit (NZ) (Sir Tristram) and the Group Two Classic Stakes winner Sequel (NZ) (Centaine). 

Patapan (NZ) did the majority of his racing in Italy where he was a prolific juvenile and trained on as an older horse to win the Group Three Premio Umbria. He was the joint champion older sprinter of 2006 and retired with 16 career victories to his credit. 

A half-brother to new Little Avondale Stud sire Per Incanto (Street Cry), Patapan has been well-patronised by breeders at Brighthill. “He’s had between 70 and 90 mares every year and there’s been plenty of good talk about his progeny,” King said. “He leaves such a good type and we’ve got some lovely horses by him to sell at Karaka next year.”

In the meantime, Napatap (NZ) promises to keep the focus on the Italian stallion after his impressive display at Riccarton. He was a little slow from the barrier and powered home down the outside of the track under Jason Waddell to beat his stablemate Gold Terror (NZ) (Scaredee Cat) by a length and a-half. “That’s a great result for the stable,” Tuahiwi trainer Paul Harris said.

Debut runner Scapolo (NZ) (Bachelor Duke) was courageous at the first time of asking with a solid finishing run for third ahead of the favourite and pacemaker Saatchi (NZ) (Strategic Image).