Postponed-Sired Dorabella Wins NZ Guineas

Postponed, the Summer Squall son to win the 2000 Peter Pan Stakes (gr. II), has sired his first grade I winner in New Zealand.

His milestone came when Dorabella defeated 15 others in the country's championship for 3-year-old fillies – the One Thousand Guineas – over 1,600 meters at Riccarton on Nov 11.

The filly prepared at Otaki by Howie and Lorraine Mathews raced on the speed and held on under Jamie Bullard to win by a half neck from Princess Coup, an Australian-bred daughter of Encosta De Lago.

Time for the Christchurch $275,000 (NZ funds) classic was 1:34.54.

Velvet And Satin staged a solid Oaks trial with her third, three parts of a length away. Retained by Peter and Philip Vela, she is grandly bred, by Carnegie from Romanee Conti, dam of their 2001 Melbourne Cup (Aus-I) winner Ethereal.

Her Central District breeder, Peter and Nancy Izett, race Dorabella. They sent Success Express granddaughter Caserio to Postponed in his first NZ season at Stoney Bridge Farm, near Auckland. By Sir Tristram son, Kaapstad, Caserio won four races from 20 starts.

Naturo, a heavy favorite for the One Thousand Guineas, is also from Postponed's first crop. She struggled into fifth and was later found to be lame.

Postponed raced for Jeanne Vance and -- like her Belmont Stakes (gr.I) winner Lemon Drop Kid   -- he was trained by Scotty Schulhofer. Postponed's big New York success provided the 3,999th stakes win for Ed Prado.

The 9-year-old is by Cot Campbell's Summer Squall, sire of Charismatic -- bidding for a Triple Crown when beaten by Lemon Drop Kid in the Belmont. Postponed managed seventh the following year.

Postponed attracted 90 mares in his first NZ season and although he struggled for numbers in his next two years, with 57 and 51, he covered 84 last season. His 2006 fee is $8,500.