Kiwi import Wigmore caused a major Group 1 upset in the South Australian Derby, giving trainer Phillip Stokes and owners OTI a second-straight win in the Classic.
The 153rd running of South Australia’s oldest race saw Philip Stokes-trained Wigmore, a New Zealand-bred son of Sweynesse, provide consecutive South Australian Derby successes for his connections.
Getting a sheltered passage throughout under jockey Teo Nugent, the three-year-old gelding had to be tenacious in the straight, racing wide to devour a strong lead from eventual runner-up Strictly Business, who has powered through along the rail.
It proved a photo finish between the pair, Wigmore winning the argument by an official 0.11l at $41 on a rain-affected Morphettville surface.
The victory delivered a ninth Group One win for Stokes, and back-to-back South Australian Derbies for he and owners OTI Racing. Last year, the combination teamed up for victory in the race with Femminile, a daughter of Dundeel.
Only lightly raced heading into Saturday, Wigmore had been fourth in the Gr1 New Zealand Derby at Ellerslie back in March, with a first start for Stokes on Anzac Day in the Gr3 Chairman’s Stakes at Morphettville.
His Derby victory was his second win and eighth career start. It proved a tough staying contest, lacking speed in wet conditions.
For Nugent, it was his first Group One victory since piloting Portland Sky to a dead-heat win in the Oakleigh Plate in 2021, and the jockey was emotional after the result.
“It was very special to get one for Stokes,” Nugent said. “When I started, I reckon I was about 12 or 13 and Mum and Dad sent me over to him to do a bit of work, back in the day.
“I learned how to ride horses over in Ireland and I promised him I’d come back and be an apprentice to him, and that never worked out. But all these years later on, it’s special to team up for a Group One.”
Nugent said Wigmore carried “typical Kiwi form” into Saturday.
“All you had to do was read through his form back in New Zealand. Once he got back to 2500 (metres), I was really confident, and he’s a mud-lover. He got through that no problems at all.”
Wigmore filled the cheap seats as a yearling at Karaka in 2024, bred and consigned by Ralph Thoroughbreds in Pukekohe and sold for NZ$25,000 to trainer Kevin Myers in Wanganui.
He was the seventh foal from the American-bred Del Mondo (More Than Ready) and a half-brother to the New Zealand Cup winner Mondorani. The third dam in this family tree is the exceptional mare Arborea, whose Group One wins included the VRC Oaks and One Thousand Guineas, and whose breeding legacy includes the Group winner Drumbeats.
Wigmore transferred to Stokes only last month after six Kiwi starts with Caley Myers, OTI stepping in to buy the horse on his stayer’s appeal and “a great set of lungs”.
Sweynesse, a dual Group Three-winning and Darley-bred son of Lonhro, stands at Novara Park and has 10 stakes winners to his name, including Group One winners Lucky Sweynesse and now Wigmore, and Group winners Only Words, Dragon Queen and Trust In You, among others.
The above is an article from The Straight which can be accessed in full here.