Significant Pedigree Boosts for Karaka 2021

Results of major races around the world over the last few weeks have delivered a series of significant boosts to pedigree pages for Karaka 2021. 

The catalogues for Book 1 and Book 2 feature several siblings to recent big-race performers:

• Lot 75 is a full-sister to Rock On Wood (NZ) (Redwood), who scored a richly deserved first Group One victory in the Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) at Trentham in December.
• Lot 521 is a half-brother to Johnny Get Angry (NZ) (Tavistock), who triumphed in the Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington in November.
• Lot 54 is a full-brother to Hypnos (NZ) (Reliable Man), who defeated a quality field in the $230,000 Group Two Coupland’s Bakeries Mile (1600m) at Riccarton in November.
• Lot 49 is a full-sister to Dragon Storm (NZ) (Shocking), who captured the $250,000 Group Three New Zealand Cup (3200m) at Riccarton in November.
• Lot 141 is a half-sister to Sword in Stone (NZ) (Redwood), who has developed into a star in Hong Kong in recent months under the name Columbus County, placing in the Group One Hong Kong Vase (2400m) and Group Two Jockey Club Cup (2000m). Lot 96 is also a close relative, being out of a sibling to the up-and-coming star.
• Lot 234 is a half-brother to the Listed Metropolitan Trophy (2500m) winner and Group Three City of Auckland Cup (2400m) placegetter Robusto (NZ) (Zed).

Lot 422 comes from the same family as the undefeated three-year-old Aegon (NZ) (Sacred Falls), whose three wins from three starts include a superb victory in the Group One New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton in November.

Lot 459 is from the family of Bivouac (Exceed and Excel), who was a brilliant winner of the Group One VRC Sprint Classic (1200m) at Flemington in November. The third placegetter in that race was Libertini (I Am Invincible), who is closely related to Lot 679 and from the same family as Lots 321 and 748.

Lots 6 and 317 come from the same family as Group One Hong Kong Mile (1600m) runner-up Southern Legend (Not a Single Doubt), while Lot 175 is out of a sibling to the Group One Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) placegetter Rattan (NZ) (Savabeel).

Lots 81 and 285 have both received a number of pedigree boosts in recent weeks, coming from the same family as Group One New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) placegetter Marine (NZ) (Ocean Park) and quality staying mare Savy Yong Blonk (NZ) (Savabeel), who won the Group Three City of Auckland Cup (2400m) and placed in the Group Three Waikato Cup (2400m) and Counties Cup (2100m).

Lot 894 is out of a sibling to the exciting mare Levante (NZ) (Proisir), who scored a breath-taking win from the back of the field in the Listed Counties Bowl (1100m), then produced a similar finishing burst to place in the Group One Railway Stakes (1200m). 

Celebrity Queen (Redoute’s Choice), a recent winner of the Group Three Colonel Reeves Stakes (1100m) and placegetter in the Group One Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) features in the pedigrees of a number of Karaka yearlings. Lots 196, 668 and 906 all come from the same family.

Lot 225 is closely related to Young Werther (NZ) (Tavistock), who ran third in the Group One Victoria Derby (2500m), while Lots 345 and 714 come from the same family as the runner-up Hit the Shot (Dundeel).

There are also several relatives to the Group One VRC Oaks (2500m) runner-up Salto Angel (NZ) (Sacred Falls). Lots 201 and 910 are out of half-siblings to the talented staying filly, while Lots 461 and 913 all come from the same family.

Lots 149 and 380 come from the same family as classy sprinting mare Spring Heat (More than Ready), who ran second in the Group One Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham last weekend. Burgundy Belle (NZ) (Burgundy), who finished third in that race, is closely related to Lot 338.

Another of the Group One features at Trentham last Saturday was the Group One Levin Classic (1600m), in which exciting colt Brando (NZ) (Savabeel) ran a strong-finishing second. The emerging three-year-old also scored a dominant victory in the Listed Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day. Lots 302 and 304 are from the same family. 

Supera (NZ) (Savabeel), who signed off her quality career with a second placing in the Group One Zabeel Classic (2000m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day, is closely related to Lots 11 and 198, and from the same family as Lots 47, 57, 325, 352 and 367.

The pedigree page for Lot 742 features two recent stakes performers, including close relative Cornflower Blue (NZ) (Savabeel), who finished third in the Group One New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m).

Lot 1 has multiple significant pedigree updates. She is closely related to the impressive Group Three Eulogy Stakes (1600m) winner Whimsical (NZ) (Savabeel), while another runner in the same family is Dom to Shoot (Shooting to Win), who has picked up two recent stakes placings including the Group One Kingston Town Classic (1800m). Lot 767 receives similar updates, being closely related to Dom to Shoot and from the same family as Whimsical.

Lot 3 is closely related to Tralee Rose (NZ) (Tavistock), who scored a superb seven-length victory in the Listed Bagot Handicap (2800m) at Flemington. Lots 397 and 457 are also from the same family.

Lots 44 and 673 are from the same family as Blowout (Dansili), who finished second in the Grade One Matriarch Stakes (1600m) at Del Mar in California. Lot 366 is related to Leinster (Majestic Warrior), who ran third in the Grade One Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (1100m).

Lot 830 comes from the same family as Princess Calla (Flower Alley), who has placed in two recent Group One features in South Africa.

Karaka 2021 gets underway with the action-packed Karaka Million twilight race meeting at Ellerslie this Saturday, followed by Book 1, which runs from January 24 to 26. Book 2 will be held on January 27 and 28.