Chris Waller and Kiwi syndicators Go Racing combined to provide the quinella in the inaugural Alf Kneebone Trans Tasman Trophy (1850m) at the metropolitan meeting at Newcastle on Saturday, with Mightybeel and stablemate Lord Ardmore running 1-2 in the Benchmark 88.

Four-year-old gelding Mightybeel was sent out $2.25 favourite and had to work for the victory after getting back in the small field, with a strong headwind ensuring he had to dig deep to get the better of front-runner Lord Ardmore. 

Ridden by James McDonald, Mightybeel is in a rich vein of form and has now won three of his past four starts. 

“Well done to the Go Racing team. They’re good owners and I am sure they are cheering back in New Zealand,” stable representative Damien Fitton said. 

“Mightybeel was strong. He switched off nicely and got into a lovely rhythm and he has just been a model of consistency this preparation, so it is great to see him put another one on the board. 

“Credit to Lee Magorrian on Lord Ardmore, he set a nice pace but didn’t go too quick and gave his horse every chance as well, and the better horse won on the day.”

The Waller trained pair had filled the first two placings at their previous start at Rosehill, with Lord Ardmore prevailing on that occasion as Mightybeel got back more than 30 lengths off a runaway leader and he clearly preferred the less taxing tempo today.  

“He travelled a lot kinder and he was a lot closer in the run, even though we were back last or second last, we were only three or four lengths off the lead. It made his job easier picking the eventual second horse up,” McDonald said. 

“I thought easing out he is going to have to do a job here. He was hidden away from the breeze and as soon as you get out and hit it, you think you have got three lengths and you make one length up. It was a good effort, he is a nice horse. “

Mightybeel was purchased by Albert Bosma’s Go Racing for $200,000 at the 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sale from the Book 1 draft of Little Avondale Stud. 

Bred by Barlow Thoroughbred Ltd, Mightybeel is by Savabeel out of the Alamosa mare Super Power and comes from the extended family of Might And Power. 

The gelding did his early education in New Zealand under Pukekohe horsewoman Kylie Grass, for whom he was a trial winner. 

Runner-up Lord Ardmore was a $65,000 purchase at the same New Zealand Bloodstock sale from the draft of The Oaks Stud, and transferred from former trainer Stephen McKee.

There are ten lots by champion sire Savabeel at this week’s New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale on November 17 and 18.