Tokyo Rose Blooms In Ladyship Stakes

New Zealand-bred mare Tokyo Rose (NZ) (Captaintreacherous) broke through for a deserved maiden stakes victory when taking out the Listed Captains Mistress Ladyship Stakes (1609m) at Menangle last Saturday.

Bred by Richard Cornelius, Tokyo Rose is by Captaintreacherous and out of unraced Rocknroll Hanover mare Evelyn Ashford, a daughter of Group Two performer Gail Devers (NZ) (Live Or Die).

Tokyo Rose was offered through Ripple Creek’s 2021 NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sale draft where she was purchased by Bruce Hutton for $22,500.

She was subsequently entrusted to the care of trainer Mark Jones, for whom she won eight and placed in 12 of her 54 starts in New Zealand, and earned more than $118,000 in prizemoney.

She joined Jason Grimson’s Menangle barn in December last year and made an immediate statement, winning four of her first five starts in Australia and ran fourth in the Group One Queen Of The Pacific (2760m).

She was subsequently runner-up in the Listed Robin Dundee Stakes (1609m) at Menangle on ANZAC Day before two unplaced runs last month.

While her form had tapered off in the last month, punters still kept Tokyo Rose safe, with the six-year-old mare starting a $4.20 third favourite in last Saturday’s mile feature.

Tokyo Rose was launched off the mobile arm by driver Cameron Hart and eventually found the lead after an early speed duel with Sugar Pie Honey (Sweet Lou). Driver Ashleigh Delosa wasn’t content in the trail and soon sent Sugar Pie Honey around to recapture the lead. Entering the home straight, Tokyo Rose came off the leaders back and quickly dashed to the lead and she was able to maintain her advantage to run out a length victor.

With victory, Tokyo Rose extended her record to 13 wins from 63 starts, with stakes earnings north of A$193,000.