Kiwis Back Up for a Winning Week Two

18 September 2006

In just the second week of the new season, Karaka graduates claimed another four wins on the card at Sha Tin on Saturday.

Race 2 - In the second of the night, Super Dana (Danasinga x Aer Lingus), ridden by Gerard Mosse and trained by Tony Lee, dashed home for a commanding win over fellow New Zealand Bloodstock Sale graduate, Miracle Dragon (Danehill x Spell On You).

Bred by Paul Ryan, Super Dana was purchased by New Zealand Bloodstock as agent at the 2001 Karaka Select Colts Sale for NZ$95,000 from Rich Hill Stud. Miracle Dragon, backing up after a third place last week, was a NZ$420,000 purchase by New Zealand Bloodstock as agent at the 2003 Karaka Premier Sale from Ascot Farm.

Race 5 - The Class 5 Shenzhen Handicap (1400m) saw a New Zealand bred quinella with Sound of Silence (Volksraad x Jazzmatazz) holding off a challenge from a slightly wayward Liberal's Ride (Catbird x Fledged).

Liberal's Ride is a NZ$75,000 purchase by John Foote from Karaka Downs at the 2004 Karaka Premier Yearling Sale.

Race 7 - After a sixth career win last week, the step up to Class 3 didn't stop Flying Bishop (Deputy Governor x Healy Ridge) backing up for another win in the Dongguan Handicap (1600m) for owner Wong Kwan Po. Bred by Geoff and Gayle Levick, the Ricky Yiu trained gelding was a NZ$37,500 purchase by Bryce Tankard at the 2000 Karaka Premier Yearling Sale and has now taken his total winnings to HK$5,423,750 (NZ$1,052,950).

Race 8 - Little Avondale Trust bred-Cheeky (O'Reilly x Sound Lover), stuck for a run until late in the piece, put in a pleasing fresh up run for second in the feature of the night, the Class 1 Guangzhou Handicap (1600m). Little Avondale Stud have a half sister to Cheeky, by Cambridge Stud's multiple Champion Sire Zabeel, entered in next year's Karaka Premier Yearling Sale. Cheeky himself was a NZ$230,000 purchase at the 2000 Karaka Premier Yearling Sale and has now amassed over NZ$1,600,000 in prize-money.

Race 9 - Four-time winner Excellent Boy (Deputy Governor x The Essence) was a tenacious second in the Class 2 Kwangtung Handicap Cup (1600m) while fellow New Zealand bred Maverick Star (Desert King x Cenphic) was third. Excellent Boy will be represented by a full sister at New Zealand Bloodstock's Ready to Run Sale on November 21 & 22.

Other New Zealand bred horses to record placings on the night were: Island Spirit (Bijou D'inde x Ibiza Bay), Doucai (Woodborough x Regal Flirt), Cash In (Fasliyev x Najaba), Kingston Winner (Krasnopolski x Awesome Magic), Lucky Guys (Soviet Star x Amalfi Drive), Champ Dragon (Maroof x Zonal), Calcando (Cape Cross x Wild Blue) and Whiplash (O'Reilly x Soleil Vite).