Grafton Cup Glory for Sacred Day (NZ)

The $90,000 purchase price for Sacred Day (NZ) (Azamour) at the Select Sale at Karaka was immediately surpassed as he raced to an impressive victory in the A$160,000 Listed G McMullan Contracting Grafton Cup (2350m) in New South Wales on Thursday.

Trained in New Zealand by Tony Pike for major stable client Raffles Racing, the four-year-old capitalised on a ground-saving ride from Ben Looker. After looming in behind the leaders rounding the home turn, he surged through the inside in the last 300 metres to score by a long neck in a thrilling three-way finish.

“I always thought he was a progressive stayer and I think he will go on from here,” Pike said. “We have always held him pretty high regard.”

Sacred Day has now had 16 starts for four wins, six placings and more than $168,900 in prize-money – almost double his purchase price at Karaka.

Sacred Day was bred by Brighthill Farm and he was part of Brighthill’s draft at the 2016 Select Sale.