Written by Paul Vettise

The purchase of multiple winner Joiya (Stravinsky {USA}) as a broodmare prospect was an inspired one by Russell Warwick and now five years later she is responsible for doing a fellow farm resident a major favour.

The Westbury Stud general manager bought her at Karaka in 2013 for NZ$25,000 and she’s subsequently filled her role admirably and has produced the first winner for the nursery’s stallion newcomer El Roca (Fastnet Rock).

His daughter Bella Mente (NZ) lowered the colours of the hot favourite Killin (Snitzel) at Matamata on Sunday for a memorable result.

“We bought the mare in foal to Swiss Ace and she had a filly, which we sold,” Warwick said.

She was purchased by Cambridge horseman Shaune Ritchie and as Bella Gioia (NZ) she has won two races and finished runner-up in the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas.

Joiya is also the dam of the Listed Ryder S. winner Niki Piki Milo (NZ) (Librettist {USA}) and the stakes placegetter The Dom (NZ) (Swiss Ace).

“The mare has done a very good job and she’s back in foal to El Roca,” Warwick said.

Her latest success story Bella Mente is now likely to be given the opportunity to add further black type to the family record with the G2 Matamata Breeders’ S. a likely target.

“Lesley and I bred her and we wanted to keep the filly so we’ve kept 25 per cent and leased 75 per cent to friends and acquaintances and we’ll get her back to breed from later on,” Warwick said.

Ritchie trains Bella Mente, who ran third on debut before her breakthrough success at the weekend.

“She is a lovely filly, quite muscular but not too heavy, who can really hit the line hard,” he said.

Ritchie also came back for more and purchased Bella Mente’s half-sister for NZ$100,000 out of Westbury’s draft at Karaka last week.

“We really like the family, so I was pleased to be able to buy her,” he said.

Well-supported young sire

El Roca, who stands at NZ$7500 + GST, has received widespread support since retiring to Gerry Harvey’s Karaka nursery.

“He’s getting wonderful opportunities with 120 mares or more in his first two or three seasons at stud,” Warwick said.

“He’s had a great start and fee-wise we’ve structured him at the lower level. His first crop sold up to NZ$210,000 and his second up to NZ$110,000.

“We didn’t expect pre-Christmas 2-year-olds and he didn’t race until he was three. He trialled, but went shin-sore.

“It’s really encouraging and he’s had four or five trial winners and there’s very good feedback on a number of others waiting in the wings.”

Trained by Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, El Roca was a gifted performer who won at stakes level in New Zealand and in Australia where he raced exclusively in stakes company.

“He was a superb racehorse and beat Dissident at Rosehill and was then beaten a lip by him in the G1 Randwick Guineas,” Warwick said.

Super sprinter in pedigree

El Roca is a son of the unraced Rubition mare Rubimill, who is a sister to the G3 Sweet Embrace S. winner Millrich. She is the dam of the two-time Group 1 winner and champion Australian sprinter Redzel (Snitzel).

El Roca enjoyed a solid recent sale at Karaka where the Westbury-offered colt out of Conferre (Encosta de Lago) went to trainer Stephen Marsh for NZ$110,000.

“It’s been heartening to see them going to good stables to get every chance,” Warwick said.

He was happy with the results achieved by the farm at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale.

“It wasn’t a walk in the park and it mapped out how we envisaged or a shade better,” Warwick said.

“In patches it wasn’t so good, but it worked out well in the end and I walked away satisfied. Reliable Man had a couple of very good sales in Book 2 as well.”

Westbury’s headline act was a brother to the Listed Uncle Remus S. winner and G1 Levin Classic runner-up Hypnos (NZ). He went to Victorian horseman Brian Jenkins for NZ$270,000 to top the opening day of the Book 2 sale.