Strong Field for Final Classique

A strong field of graduates of last year's National Yearling Sales Series has been assembled to contest the New Zealand Bloodstock $500,000 2YO Classique (1200m) (R.L.) at Te Rapa on Saturday.

 Set to jump at 3.45pm, this year's Classique will be its final running thanks to the introduction of New Zealand Bloodstock's new graduates race - the Karaka Million - to be run at Ellerslie on the eve of the Premier Sale in 2008.

Stakes-winners Crossyourheart (Show a Heart x Red Century), The Pooka (Tobougg x The Banchee), Alamosa (O'Reilly x Lodore Mystic) and Grand Dancer (No Excuse Needed x Clermont Rose) headline the talent packed line up.

Top rated filly & Listed winner Crossyourheart.

With a perfect record of three from three, including defeating Group 2 winner The Pooka in the  Listed Counties Challenge Stakes, Crossyourheart has drawn a pleasing barrier five. Trainer Richard Collett purchased the speedy filly from last year's Karaka Premier Sale for NZ$210,000 from Ascot Farm.

At the other end of the scale The Pooka's trainer, John Wheeler, bid to NZ$35,000 in the Select Session for the Rodmor Stud consigned colt who has drawn barrier 11.

From the first crop of No Excuse Needed, Grand Dancer provided his sire with his first stakes-winner when he took out the Group 3 Eclipse Stakes at Ellerslie on New Years Day. Trainer Bruce Wallace paid NZ$280,000 for the colt from the draft of Little Avondale Stud.

At the Karaka Select Sale yesterday John Wheeler secured the Towkay half-sister to Grand Dancer for NZ$135,000.

Alamosa, a NZ$60,000 purchase by Peter McKay from Waikato Stud at last year's Premier Sale,  recorded his black type when winning the Listed Wellesley Stakes at Trentham.

The full New Zealand Bloodstock $500,000 2YO Classique field: