Superb Sprint Victories for Karaka Graduates

Karaka graduates Inferno (Holy Roman Emperor) and Sky Punch (NZ) (Alamosa) delivered standout performances to win black-type features over 1400 metres in Singapore and Australia over the weekend.

Inferno Outclasses Singapore Classic Rivals

One of the rising stars of Singapore racing, Inferno (Holy Roman Emperor) has proven to be a valuable purchase secured for $140,000 during Book 1 of Karaka 2018.

The four-year-old collected the sixth win of his seven-start career with a dominant performance in Sunday’s S$250,000 Listed Singapore Classic (1400m) at Kranji.

Inferno has now earned S$478,173 (NZ$522,160) in prize-money for owners the Barree Stable, almost four times his purchase price, with the promise of much more to come.

On Sunday, the Cliff Brown-trained star cruised around the track in seventh place until jockey Vlad Duric eased off the brakes in the straight. With a stellar turn of foot, Inferno swept to a clear lead. Under minimal urging from Duric, he scored by a length and three-quarters in a quick time of 1:21.77.

“I just wanted him to settle as it was his first time over 1400 metres,” Duric said. “He did that. He was relaxed the whole way through.”

Sunday’s effortless victory was Inferno’s third at stakes level, following on from the Golden Horseshoe (1200m) and Saas Fee Stakes (1200m).

Brown will now point him towards the Singapore Guineas (1600m) on September 26.

“That was such an exciting win,” Brown said. “He travelled beautifully throughout and that was a 10-out-of-10 ride from Vlad.

“The Guineas is the plan for him next. I won’t change a thing in his training, this horse is getting better and better.

“That was probably his best win so far, and it’s all thanks to Chris Bock (racing manager) who bought him. You know, a lot goes into it, and Chris is such a great judge of young horses. He can spend $20,000 on a horse who will become very good, just like he can do it for a $150,000 horse. It’s remarkable.”

Sky Punch (NZ) All the Way in Macdonald Stakes

Karaka graduate Sky Punch (NZ) (Alamosa) had his day in the sun with a strong front-running win in Saturday’s A$100,000 Listed Leon Macdonald Stakes (1400m) at Morphettville.

Bred by the Anzac Breeding Partnership Joint Venture, Sky Punch was a $30,000 purchase at the 2016 Select Sale and fetched $170,000 at the Ready to Run Sale later that year.

Saturday’s brilliant performance was the fifth win of the six-year-old’s 23-start career, boosting his career earnings to A$179,080 for a big group of owners.

Ridden by apprentice jockey Jessica Eaton, Sky Punch led throughout Saturday’s Adelaide feature and found plenty of fight when challenged in the straight. He held on strongly to win by three-quarters of a length.

“His work on Tuesday was just unbelievable,” winning trainer Michael Hickmott said. “I said to Jess, ‘We’re just going to go to the front.’

“I'm just so happy to win this race with Jess, and to win the race named after Mr Macdonald as well, who has been an idol of mind my whole life going back to Umrum days and Gold Guru and horses like that.”

Sky Punch became the third black-type winner within the space of a week for graduates of the Ready to Run Sale, following on from Excelling (Manhattan Rain) in last Sunday’s S$250,000 Merlion Trophy (1200m) in Singapore and Sacred Capital (NZ) (O’Reilly) in the M$800,000 Macau Gold Cup (1800m).

This year’s Ready to Run Sale will be held at Karaka on 18 and 19 November, with Breeze Ups conducted at Te Rapa Racecourse on 12 and 13 October. The catalogue will be out in mid-September.