Group 1 Glory for Book 1 Graduate Yourdeel (NZ)

The revamped National Yearling Sales Series at Karaka has celebrated its first Group 1-winning graduate – Yourdeel (NZ) (Dundeel) in Saturday’s $200,000 Sistema Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie.

New Zealand Bloodstock introduced the new format in 2018, replacing the Premier, Select and Festival Sales with Book 1, 2 and 3. The results were spectacular, and a number of those yearlings have already made their mark on the racetrack as two-year-olds.

Saturday’s Sistema Stakes was the first Group 1 race for two-year-olds in New Zealand this season, and in a nail-biting finish, Yourdeel edged out fellow Book 1 graduate Aalaalune (NZ) (Reliable Man).

Yourdeel has made a big impression in his short career, winning by five lengths on debut before recording two placings behind stablemate Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel) including the $1m Karaka Million (1200m).

He scored his first stakes win with a six-length romp in last month’s $70,000 Group 3 Waikato Stud Slipper (1200m) at Matamata, and on Saturday he again lifted his game to Group 1 level.

Ridden by Opie Bosson for trainer Jamie Richards, the gelding quickly strode forward into a prominent position from his outside gate. He was travelling well approaching the home turn and swept to the lead in the straight, holding out the late challenges of Aalaalune and Aretha (NZ) (Charm Spirit) in a three-way photo finish.

“He over-raced a bit early and I thought surely he can’t keep going,” Bosson said. “When I got stuck in, he fought so hard. He’s a top-quality horse.”

Raced by Chris Rutten, John Norwood and Rod Preston, Yourdeel has now had five starts for three wins, two placings and $244,350 in prize-money – almost two and a half times his purchase price in Book 1 last year.