Counties Cup - First Four Home in Feature
24 November 2008
Counties Cup Day at Pukekohe Park proved to be a sterling one for New Zealand Bloodstock graduates when Gallions Reach, and three other graduates, occupied the first four placings in the feature Group 2 Counties Cup (2100m).
A $30,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Festival Yearling purchase, conditioned by Richard Yuill, the six-year-old gelding successfully carried the top weight of 58 kg to victory in the feature, boosting his earnings to $473,000. Bred by J R O'Brien, Gallions Reach is by Victory Dance out of the Straight Strike mare, Dorinka, and was sold by Newmarket Lodge Stud to David Archer, who remains part owner along with his son Simon and daughter Natalie.
Following Gallions Reach home in a blanket finish were Twinkling and Sircross, with Ginga Dude and Genuine Offer in a dead heat for fourth. Twinkling (Star Way ex Limitless), Sircross (Cape Cross ex Contra Aid), and Genuine Offer (Generous ex Bluiski) are all Karaka yearling sales graduates, and a half brother to Ginga Dude (Istidaad ex Clatitude) by Handsome Ransom will be offered by Chandon Stud at the 2009 New Zealand Bloodstock Select Sale in January.
Richard Beymer (Volksraad ex Westside Story), a 2005 Ready to Run purchase, showed the versatility of those who enter the ring at Karaka when leading the field home in the feature sprint race on the card, the 1100m First Sovereign Trust Stakes (Listed). A half brother to Richard Beymer by Thorn Park will be available for purchase from Windsor Park Stud at the 2009 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Sale. When asked about the Thorn Park yearling, Rodney Schick of Windsor Park stated, "He is an attractive, well-made chestnut colt."
Earlier in the day the Murdock Newell Stakes for two-year-olds unearthed four high class fillies that finished within one length of one another, leaving the rest of the field some six lengths behind. Each of the fillies, The Lady (Stravinsky ex Lady Dehere), Katie Lee (Pins ex Miss Jessie Jay), Rockadubai (Fastnet Rock ex Dubai Express), and Belle De Jeu (Not A Single Doubt ex Miss Charmer) have siblings on offer in the upcoming Premier Sale that will be held 26 & 27 January.
According to Marcus Corban of Cambridge Stud, the Viking Ruler half sister to The Lady is a big strong filly, and a good type. "Lady Dehere has a lot in her future, her three-year-old Zabeel won the other day in Australia. It looks as though this filly has a lot of residual and she compliments the rest of the yearlings we have to offer."
The Murdock Newell Stakes was tackled by Vincent Mangano (No Excuse Needed) last year before he went on to be the inaugural Karaka Million winner, and it is bound to spring more success into the Karaka Million field this time around. The weekend performances by Katie Lee and Belle De Jeu have moved them up to second and sixth respectively in the Karaka Millions Order of Entry.