Another Big Win For Saint Emilion (NZ)

After failing to meet his $80,000 reserve as a yearling at the 2013 Select Sale, Saint Emilion (NZ) (Mastercraftsman) has risen to the very highest tier of New Zealand’s racehorses. On Saturday he claimed the 14th win of his outstanding 38-start career, scoring by a nose in the $100,000 Group 3 Coca Cola Canterbury Gold Cup (2000m) at Riccarton.

The grey has enjoyed a career-best season in 2017-18, headed by his first Group 1 win in last month’s New Zealand Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie. Saturday’s weight-for-age feature was a strong follow-up, leading all the way and refusing to be passed in the straight by the gallant local challenger Who Dares Wins (NZ) (Iffraaj).

“He’s very tough and he wasn’t going to give in,” rider Lisa Allpress told NZ Racing Desk.

Saint Emilion, raced by the estate of his late breeder Robyn Horton, has earned $446,845 in prize-money – more than five and a half times his reserve at the 2013 Select Sale.

Runner-up Who Dares Wins is also a Karaka graduate, bought for $44,000 at the 2014 Festival Sale. He has now had 35 starts for six wins, 11 placings and $139,525 in prize-money.

Saturday’s third placegetter, Boots ‘N’ All (NZ) (Perfectly Ready), was passed in at the 2014 South Island Sale with a reserve of just $5,000. He has had 32 starts for eight wins, 11 placings and $170,415 in stakes.