News
Te Rapa Specialist Stars in Soliloquy
Tuesday, October 27, 2020
The temporary relocation of Saturday’s Group Three Waikato Stud Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) played right into the hands of Te Rapa specialist De La Terre (NZ) (Reliable Man).Bought for $55,000 at Karaka 2019, De La Terre scored an impressive front-running victory to take an equal lead on the 2019-20 New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series points table. The Soliloquy Stakes produced a trifecta for Karaka graduates, with runner-up Kahma Lass (NZ) (Darci Brahma) bought for $290,000 from Book 1 of Karaka 2019, and third-placed Tokorangi (NZ) (Redwood) a $30,000 purchase from Book 2.
Miami Bound (NZ) Dominates Moonee Valley Gold Cup
Tuesday, October 27, 2020
Karaka 2018 graduate Miami Bound (NZ) (Reliable Man) scored a dominant victory in Saturday’s A$500,000 Group Two McCafe Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m), becoming the first mare to win the race in 35 years.Miami Bound was bought for $120,000 from Westbury Stud’s draft in Book 1 of Karaka 2018, and last year’s Group One VRC Oaks (2500m) winner has now had 14 starts for five wins, two placings and more than A$1.22 million in stakes – 10 times her purchase price.
Need I Say More Superb in Sarten
Tuesday, October 27, 2020
Need I Say More (No Nay Never) produced one of the New Zealand spring’s standout three-year-old performances in Saturday’s $100,000 Group Two James & Annie Sarten Memorial Stakes (1400m) at Te Rapa.Raced by the Te Akau Never Say Die Syndicate, the $130,000 Karaka 2019 purchase has now won four of his five starts for $145,800 in stakes to date.
Road to the Jericho Romp for Dragon Storm (NZ)
Tuesday, October 27, 2020
Ruakaka raider Dragon Storm (NZ) (Shocking) lived up to his stamina-stacked pedigree with a powerful performance in the $30,000 NZB Airfreight Road to the Jericho (3000m) at Riccarton Park on Saturday.The Karaka graduate is a son of two-time Auckland Cup (3200m) winner Prize Lady (NZ) (Prized), while his sire Shocking won the Melbourne Cup (3200m) in 2009. Dragon Storm had previously shown bright promise over staying distances, including an eye-catching fifth in the Wellington Cup (3200m) in January of this year. But the six-year-old’s dominant performance on Saturday was another big step forward.
Inferno Untouchable in Lion City Cup
Tuesday, October 27, 2020
Inferno (Holy Roman Emperor) is developing into an unstoppable force in Singapore racing – a reputation the Karaka graduate enhanced with another powerhouse performance in Sunday’s S$400,000 Listed Lion City Cup (1200m) at Kranji.Bought from Westbury Stud’s Book 1 draft for $140,000, Inferno recorded the eighth victory of his nine-start career. Sunday’s spectacular victory took him past S$900,000 in stakes, which is more than six times his purchase price.
Spectacular Spring Classic Win for William Wallace (NZ)
Tuesday, October 27, 2020
Ready to Run Sale graduate William Wallace (NZ) (Darci Brahma) produced a remarkable performance to claim his first stakes win in Saturday’s $50,000 Listed Christchurch Casino Spring Classic (2000m) at Riccarton.William Wallace was a $40,000 purchase at Karaka and is trained by Adrian Bull, who shares ownership with his wife Robyn. The highly talented gelding has now had 34 starts for seven wins, six placings and $174,392 in stakes – more than four times his purchase price.
Soliloquy Stakes Set for NZB Filly of the Year Series Debut
Friday, October 23, 2020
The New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series has been expanded to 11 legs this season with the addition of the $70,000 Group Three Waikato Stud Soliloquy Stakes (1400m), which will be run at Te Rapa on Saturday.
The Soliloquy Stakes is traditionally run at Ellerslie, but will be held at Te Rapa this year as part of the spring reshuffle forced by the COVID-19 interruptions earlier in the year.
“Waikato Stud are delighted to partner with the Waikato Racing Club in sponsoring the Waikato Stud Soliloquy Stakes,” Waikato Stud principal Mark Chittick said.
“With the race now being included in the prestigious NZB Filly of the Year Series, it will provide an ideal target for northern fillies as they head towards the Group One New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) three weeks later at Riccarton.”
The Waikato Stud Soliloquy Stakes will be run as Race 5 on Saturday with a start time of 2:57pm.
NZB Airfreight Road to the Jericho Reaches Riccarton
Friday, October 23, 2020
The South Island gets its shot at the A$300,000 Jericho Cup (4600m) with the running of the $30,000 NZB Airfreight Road to the Jericho (3000m) at Riccarton Park on Saturday.
Saturday’s race at Riccarton Park is the second of two qualifying heats staged in New Zealand. The first heat was run at New Plymouth last month and won by Master Fin (NZ) (Nom du Jeu). The winner of each race receives a guaranteed start in the Jericho Cup at Warrnambool on November 29.
As sponsors, NZB Airfreight offers a $5,000 equine airfreight credit for the winner of each qualifying race, should they decide to travel across the Tasman and contest the Jericho Cup.
Long Weekend Shines on NZB Ready to Run Sale Trainers Series
Friday, October 23, 2020
The long weekend will see two NZB sponsored Ready to Run Sale Trainers Series races take place throughout the country at Riccarton Park and Trentham.Eight NZB Ready to Run Sale race sponsorships were introduced this spring, as an incentive to support New Zealand trainers to attend the Ready to Run Sale at Karaka in November.
With the series incentive being well received by New Zealand trainers, five individual winning trainers have already confirmed their support to attend the 2020 Ready to Run Sale including Danny Frye, Mark Brosnan, Jamie Richards, Emma Davies and Johno Benner.
New Zealand-Sourced Stallions Starring in Australia
Thursday, October 22, 2020
The top flight of Australian racing is among the highest echelons of the sport anywhere in the world. Although, stallions sourced from the other side of the Tasman are more than holding their own.
New Zealand sourced sires boast the best credentials for success in that unique and high-intensity environment.
So You Think (NZ), Ocean Park (NZ) and Tavistock (NZ) were all Karaka graduates who won at Group One level on the racetrack and have become highly successful commercial sires, and all three of them sired Group One winners in Australia during the 2019-20 season.
Darci Brahma (NZ) is another Karaka graduate who has become a successful stallion. The $1.1 million Premier Sale purchase won five Group One races and has become a prolific source of winners during his career at The Oaks Stud.
Now the up-and-comer Kermadec (NZ) represents the next generation. He was a $260,000 purchase at the 2013 Premier Sale, and he won four races and more than A$2.9 million.
Dundeel (NZ) and Zed (NZ) are two other New Zealand-sourced stallions who sired Group One winners in Australia last season.
With such impressive performance and potential among stallions carrying the (NZ) suffix, New Zealand and Karaka are the perfect places to secure a promising stallion prospect.
NZB Ready to Run Sale’s Unrivalled Stats and Stars
Tuesday, October 20, 2020
The facts, figures and Group One graduates that have come out of New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready to Run Sale paint a picture of a sale that is one of a kind.The Ready to Run Sale at Karaka, which will be held on 18 and 19 November, is the undisputed source of winning two-year-old sale graduates in the southern hemisphere.
A Supreme Source of Classic Success
Over the last six seasons, graduates of the Ready to Run Sale have combined for an incredible seven Derby victories. This year’s Derby-winning star was Golden Sixty (Medaglia d’Oro), who was a $300,000 purchase from the 2017 Ready to Run Sale. He produced a scintillating performance in the HK$20 million Hong Kong Derby (2000m) in March.
Sprinting superstars in Hong Kong
The HK$20 million Group One Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) is one of the biggest sprint races on the planet, and graduates of NZB Sales have enjoyed a stellar run of success. The 2019 winner was Beat the Clock (Hinchinbrook), who was a $200,000 purchase from Prima Park’s draft at the 2015 Ready to Run Sale. The superb sprinter has now won 10 races and more than HK$52 million, which is 50 times his purchase price.
Brilliant Talent in Australia
The current headline act is undoubtedly Te Akau Shark (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle), who David Ellis bought for $230,000 from Lyndhurst Farm’s draft at the 2016 Ready to Run Sale. The classy chestnut has won seven of his 14 starts and more than $1.5 million in stakes, winning the Group One Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) at Randwick earlier this year.
Up-and-Comers
There are also a number of rising Ready to Run Sale stars who are beginning to make their mark across New Zealand, Australia and Asia. One of the most exciting is Kinane (NZ) (Reliable Man), who was bought for $165,000 from the draft of Phoenix Park at the 2018 Ready to Run Sale. He has had eight starts to date for two wins, three placings and more than A$120,000 in stakes, headed by a spectacular win in the Group Three Frank Packer Plate (2000m) and a placing in the Group Three Gunsynd Classic (1800m).
Magnificent Melody Belle (NZ) Defends Livamol Crown
Monday, October 19, 2020
In the same week that she was crowned New Zealand’s Horse of the Year for the second time, megastar Karaka graduate Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands) has added another Group One victory to her amazing record.The $57,500 Premier Sale purchase brilliantly defended her crown in Saturday’s $250,000 Livamol Classic (2040m) at Hastings. It was her 12th win at the elite level, now just one behind the all-time New Zealand record held by the legendary Sunline (NZ) (Desert Sun). Melody Belle has now earned more than $3.8 million for her owners the Fortuna Melody Belle Syndicate, which is 66 times her purchase price.
Golden Sixty Strikes Again in Sha Tin Trophy
Monday, October 19, 2020
Ready to Run Sale graduate Golden Sixty (Medaglia d’Oro) extended his dominant form in Hong Kong with yet another sparkling performance in Sunday’s HK$4.5m Group Two The Oriental Watch Sha Tin Trophy (1600m).Bought for $300,000 from Riversley Park’s draft at the 2017 Ready to Run Sale at Karaka, Golden Sixty has now had 13 starts for 12 wins, earning more than HK$35 million. That’s the equivalent of around NZ$6.9 million, which is 23 times his purchase price.
Karaka Quinella in Caulfield Classic
Monday, October 19, 2020
Graduates of New Zealand Bloodstock sales played starring roles in Saturday’s A$250,000 Group Three Neds Classic (2000m) at Caulfield, finishing first, second and fourth.The staying three-year-old feature was won by Albarado (NZ) (Savabeel), who was a $140,000 purchase by Busuttin Racing from Book 1 of Karaka 2019. He scored by a neck from Let’s Karaka Deel (NZ) (Dundeel), who cost $80,000 from the same sale. Fourth placegetter Redwood Shadow (NZ) (Redwood) was passed in at Book 2 of Karaka 2019 with a $20,000 reserve.
All-Karaka Finish to Spring Sprint
Monday, October 19, 2020
Graduates of New Zealand Bloodstock Sales finished first, second and third in Saturday’s $70,000 Group Three Red Badge Spring Sprint (1400m) at Hastings.In a tight finish, the $50,000 Select Sale purchase Hypnos (NZ) (Reliable Man) prevailed by a short head from the $26,000 Festival Sale graduate Rock On Wood (NZ) (Redwood). Another half-length away was Vigor Winner (Declaration of War), who cost $50,000 at the Ready to Run Sale.