New Zealand Bloodstock 2YO Classique

New Zealand's richest juvenile race, the Listed New Zealand Bloodstock 2YO $500,000 Classique takes place this Saturday at Te Rapa. The race is open to all two-year-olds purchased through the 2004 National Yearling Sales Series.

Eleven top quality horses were nominated for the race and yesterday, prior to the record-breaking final session of the Premier Sale, a live barrier draw was conducted in the Karaka sales ring.

The draw, conducted under the watchful eye of Chief Racecourse Inspector John McKenzie, saw the connections of each horse pull their barrier draw from a hat.

Notable entrants in the race include Premier Sale graduates Kindacross (Cape Cross x Kindness) who was purchased by David Ellis for $62,500. The smart gelding has had four starts for 3 wins, one of these in the Listed Fairview Ford Stakes.

From the Select Sale and back from Australia for the race is the Graeme Rogerson trained Dower (Pins x Burwood Road). The filly was purchased for $90,000 and has won two races in Sydney. Another Select graduate is the impressive winner of the Group 2 Ford Wakefield Challenge Stakes, Wahid (Almutawakel x Rory's Helen). The gelding was purchased by trainer Allan Sharrock for $50,000.

One of two Festival Sale representatives, Waikeepadacash (D'Cash x Waikeeper), was purchased by Peter Walker for $30,000. Although the colt has not won a race he has looked exciting in his three races where he has been placed each time.

The final field for the race is:

1  Wahid (7)    55.5   Leith Innes   Allan Sharrock

2  Kindacross (11)   55.5   Hayden Tinsley   Mark Walker

3  Jayeffkay (2)   55.5   Vinny Colgan   Richard Collett & Shane Hapeta

4  Master Regent (8)   55.5   Allan Peard   Bruce Wallace

5  Sandspirit (3)   55.5    Reese Jones   Robert Priscott

6  Waikeepadacash (6)   55.5   Grant Cooksley    Colin Jillings & Richard Yuill

7  Governor Bois (10)   55.5   Lisa Cropp   John Wheeler

8  Realign (1)   55.5   Michael Coleman   Michael Moroney & Andrew Scott

9  Jailhouse (9)   55.5  Peter Johnson   Stephen Mercer

10  Dower (4)  54   Andrew Calder   Graeme Rogerson & Stephen Autridge

11  Volks Princess (5)   54   Noel Harris   Jim Wallace

The Classique jumps at 3.23pm this Saturday at Te Rapa. For more information about the New Zealand Bloodstock $500,000 2YO Classique see the NZB website, www.nzb.co.nz or phone 09 298 0055.