Bates returns home to land coveted NZ 2000 Guineas on Kumara Straight

Kumara Straight (outer, blue colours) gets in the deciding stride to beat Rip Tide (far right) and win the New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton (Photo Race Images South)

Ex-pat Cantabrian Logan Bates returned to his former hometown in Christchurch to collect another local Group One feature when he guided Cambridge visitor Kumara Straight to victory in the Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m).

Bates, the son of former jockeys Jamie Bates and Kylie Williams, is becoming one of the stand-out riders in the state of Victoria across the Tasman and came of age around this time last year when he returned home to pilot Just Charlie to win the Listed Metropolitan Trophy (2600m) during Christchurch Cup week.

He was then taken on a great ride on both sides of the Tasman by Jigsaw, who he rode to victory in the A$1 million Meteorite (1200m), the Group 1 Railway (1200m) at Ellerslie, the Group 1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) and $5 million The Quokka (1200m).

Returning home to ride on New Zealand Cup day again, Bates showed just why he is a sought after commodity in Victoria as he guided the Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray-prepared Kumara Straight through a muddling tempo in running before unleashing him in the home straight.

With 200m to run it looked like the Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained duo of Rip Tide and Coniston were going to fight out the finish with Cambridge raider Excite as they traded blows in front.

Just as Rip Tide thrust his head in front, Kumara Straight appeared on the outside of the trio and with a massive lunge got in the winning stride to win by a half length with a half head back to Coniston in third.

Bates was quick to thank those involved who got him to Christchurch to take the mount on the son of Hellbent.

“Thanks to Shaune, Colm and the whole team and to Craig Baker who sourced me the ride,” Bates said.

“Lucky enough I pulled the right rein as I was having a look at it, and he was really unlucky at his last run. He just needed to take the natural progression from that and he did.

“It was a messy sort of race as I was in a lovely spot then the tempo came out of it and I decided to just let him use his action and not get in an arm wrestle.

“To the horse’s credit I gave him a squeeze at the top of the corner and he responded straight away, which is a good feeling as you know they have plenty in the tank.

“He took a while to hit his straps, but he pinned his ears back and really hit the line and got the job done.

“The feel he gave me today, he has a lovely action, and I think in time he can stretch out further.

“It’s great to come home and have Mum and my brother here and ride another Group One winner in front of them.

“I’m also sure it will be a great phone call with Dad when I speak to him later on.”

Murray, for whom victory was his first Group One win, was keeping his emotions intact as he described the path the horse had taken to get to Riccarton, which didn’t include the traditional three-year-old lead up events.

“That was unreal as he got caught wide, but he just kept on coming as he is a tough bugger,” he said.

“That was just his third start, so it is quite special.

“When he won his maiden at Ellerslie, we took him back there again and he just got touched off by one of Roger and Robert’s (James and Wellwood). I said to Shaune that he was just a bit green and Shaune said we have to go (here to Riccarton) so we did.

“Shaune bought this horse in Sydney, and he can really pick them out.”

Raced by Ken Malone under his Malone Thoroughbred Ltd banner and Ritchie, Kumara Straight was purchased by Ritchie for A$75,000 from Twin Hill Stud’s 2025 Inglis Classic yearling sale draft.

He is a son of Sakhee’s Secret mare Snow Secret who finished runner-up in the 2016 Gr.3 Waikato Cup (2400m) and comes from an extended family that includes the 2003 Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2400m) winner Zagalia.