Hidden Asset Too Good in G2 Championship Stakes

The $100,000 Group 2 Classic Hits Championship Stakes (2100m) at Ellerslie on Saturday saw a very strong performance from Hidden Asset to win his first black type race and record more stakes success for his sire High Chaparral.

Trained by Shaune Ritchie and ridden by James McDonald, Hidden Asset (High Chaparral x Fragile Asset) was too strong for his competition despite racing greenly in the Ellerslie straight. The son of High Chaparral has only raced on two previous occasions for a win in his last start in the New Zealand Herald Mile, and a third on debut.

In a field that had some talented and far more seasoned runners, the win by the three-year-old was very impressive. Third home was another New Zealand Bloodstock graduate, the John Sargent trained Yourein (Reset), who very easily won the Listed Championship Stakes at his last start.

The son of High Chaparral was bought by his trainer Shaune Ritchie from Windsor Park Stud at the 2009 Karaka Premier Sale for $50,000. Hidden Asset holds a nomination for the New Zealand Derby in which he is now rated an $8 chance with the TAB.

High Chaparral has a draft of 19 colts and 14 fillies in the Karaka Yearling Sales with some very appealing young horses on offer. The 2009/2010 New Zealand Breeder of the Year, Windsor Park Stud, will offer the largest line-up of his young stock with 21 entries by the gun sire.

To view High Chaparral's draft for the 2011 Karaka Premier Sale, click here.

The New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale Series will begin with the Premier Sale on 31 January & 1 February. The Select Sale will run from 2 - 4 February with the Festival Sale on 6 & 7 February.