Sand Wave (NZ) Continues Epic Autumn Ride

A run of epic Autumn form has earned star southern three-year-old Sand Wave (NZ) (Somebeachsomewhere) a tilt at the Group One New Zealand Derby (2600m). 

The classy pacer made it back-to-back wins at stakes level when taking out the $50,000 Listed Garrards Sires Stakes Magnifique (1980m) at Addington on Friday night.

Sand Wave was offered at the 2020 Christchurch National Yearling Sale by breeder-vendors Mike Atkins and Greg Adlam of Gama Breeding.

A winner of seven of his last eight starts, Sand Wave is raced by the Nine Three Syndicate, the Nude @ Ten Syndicate and Chris Alcock.

Trainer-driver Nathan Williamson took no chances with Sand Wave, using the same tactics he and his classy colt used to win the Group Two Alabar Southern Supremacy Stakes Final (2700m) at Ascot Park last month.

Williamson soon took Sand Wave to the front before the pacer unleashed scintillating closing sectionals to win.

The Southland trainer will now send Sand Wave for a spell with a very successful Autumn behind him and a big race target in the summer to look forward to.

“He will go for a spell now and we will set him for the Derby at the end of the year,” Williamson said.

“I am not kidding myself about the challenge that lies ahead with him because there were probably six three-year-olds as good as him or better who weren’t there last night who will be in the Derby.”

“But he just keeps getting better so that will be his aim and then he will have some good country cups down this way over the summer.”

The field for Friday night’s $50,000 Listed Garrards Sires Stakes Magnifique field was solely made up of NZB Standardbred graduates.

Cyrus (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) unwound strongly down to the outer to get within a length of Sand Wave to run second.

Cyrus was purchased by Jean Feiss and fetched a $60,000 price tag. The prolific owner secured him from the 2020 Christchurch National Yearling Sale from Rosedale Farm’s draft.

Cantfindabettorman (NZ) (Sweet Lou) rallied well along the inner to run third.

The pacer was a $41,000 purchase by trainer Graeme Anderson from the Woodlands Stud draft at the 2020 Auckland National Yearling Sales.

Fellow NZB Standardbred graduates Invitation Only (NZ) (Art Major) and Onedin Miki (NZ) (Always B Miki) ran fourth and fifth respectively.

Consignor	S. Adlam
Breeding	Somebeachsomewhere x Wave Runner
Sale	2020 Christchurch Yearling Sale
Bred by	M B Atkins, G M Adlam