Karaka Bargain Cracks Half Million Mark
28 February 2008
Bargain Karaka graduate Ista Kareem won the AAMI Group 3 Launceston Cup (2400m) by a dashing one-and-three-quarter lengths yesterday to take his career earnings to over $580,000.
Although notching up five stakes-placings including third in the Group 1 Adelaide Cup almost two years ago and third in the Group 3 Hobart Cup at his last start, the win was his first at stakes-level. The Colin Little trained seven-year-old has now won on 10 occasions and been placed nine times.
A NZ$750 purchase as a weanling, Ista Kareem (Germano x Princesses Touch by Touching Wood) was onsold through the 2002 Karaka Ready to Run Sale for NZ$18,000.
Second-placegetter was fellow Karaka graduate, Lady Atire (Pentire x Lady Acumen by Sound Reason). Paul Moroney purchased her at the 2004 Karaka Premier Sale for NZ$90,000 from Rich Hill Stud.
After two years of conducting separate Weanling and Broodmare Sales, New Zealand Bloodstock will reunite the sessions in 2008 in a combined National Weanling, Broodmare & Mixed Bloodstock Sale on 11 & 12 May at Karaka. Entries close on 12 March.