Demonetization repaid the faith of trainer Nigel Tiley when he weighed in a winner for the first time since November 2021 in the Tauranga Stakes (Gr.2, 1600m) on Saturday.
It was his fourth black-type victory and the first since the Eagle Technology Stakes (Gr.3, 1600m) at Te Aroha twelve months ago. South African jockey Craig Zackey put him into play approaching the corner and he made steady progress on the Soft 7 surface to collar Prise De Fer (Savabeel) in the weight-for-age contest.
Demonetization is an 8yo first-crop son of Vinery sire All Too Hard and has been a stable favourite since a ground-breaking 3yo campaign that saw him top pre-post markets for the 2018 Group 1 NZ Derby.
A fetlock injury ruled him out of that year’s classic, however, Tiley has never doubted his reliability and resilience. “He gives his all every time and is just such an honest horse. He’s a little older and wiser these days and knows what the game is all about.
“He goes best on tracks with the sting out of the ground so he will go for a spell now. He’s been up for a long time and he’s weighted out of the Group 1 mile handicaps around Christmas. We will look at some weight-for-age options in the autumn.”
Demonetization was bred and sold by Bob and Sandra Peters as a foal for $65,000 in Sydney. He was pin-hooked for $160,000 to the 2016 Karaka Yearling Sale and Tiley’s long-time stable client Narendra Balia paid $220,000 for him at the 2016 Karaka 2YO Sale.
Saturday’s victory improved his record to 10 wins in 39 starts for prizemoney over $424,000.
All Too Hard sired him from Midnight Special (Zabeel) who has also thrown Midnight Blue (Perth Cup Gr.2) and Neverland (Carbine Club of WA Stakes LR). Her most recent is a filly by Highland Reel (Ire) foaled in September.
The Vinery sire’s Kiwi contingent also includes Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes Gr.3 winner Babylon Berlin who won a Matamata 1000m trial untouched on November 3. She holds a Group 1 entry to the Railway Stakes (1200m) at Te Rapa on New Year’s Day.
All Too Hard’s Hong Kong Group 1 winner Wellington was also an effortless trial winner over 1200m at Sha Tin on Friday. Regular rider Alexis Badel reported he felt focused ahead of the HK Jockey Club Sprint (Gr.2, 1200m) next Sunday.
There are 18 All Too Hard yearlings entered for the Gold Coast Magic Millions starting on January 10. His Day 2 consignment includes a chestnut colt from Vinery (as agent) catalogued as Lot 416. His dam Spoils (Snitzel) was runner-up in the 2016 MRC Debutant Stakes LR at Caulfield.
