Weekend Wins Boost Karaka Ready to Run Sale

Sensational wins on both sides of the Tasman on Saturday threw a timely spotlight on New Zealand Bloodstock's forthcoming Ready to Run Sale at Karaka, with star performers Jokers Wild and Sphenophyta, both with relatives in the Sale.

Reigning New Zealand Champion Two-Year-Old, Jokers Wild (Black Minnaloushe x Miss Rory) demonstrated once again why his title was so deserved with a gutsy win in the Group 2 Golan Hawkes Bay Guineas (1400m) at Hastings on Saturday. The three-year-old chased down the leaders with half a neck to spare on the line from NZB graduates Alberto (Magic Albert x Ballet Honours) in second and last-start winner Pinot Grigio (O'Reilly x Chablis) three-quarters of a length away in third.

Jokers Wild's half-brother by Don Eduardo is catalogued for the Karaka Ready to Run Sale in November, consigned by Esker Lodge. He also has a yearling half-brother by Montjeu entered for Sale at the National Yearling Sale Series in January.

Bought by Paul Moroney for $40,000 at the Karaka Select Sale last year, and trained by Mike Moroney & Dean Melton for owners John Carter, Garry Christini and Barbara Paterson, Jokers Wild now has ten starts for six wins. The colt's main target this Spring is the Group 1 First Sovereign 2000 Guineas at Riccarton where he is currently the $1.85 favourite.

Across the Tasman, the New Zealand-bred (and formerly trained) six-year-old, Sphenophyta (Groom Dancer x Ballermoss), gave his owners plenty to sing about with an impressive win in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday.

Now trained by Lee Freedman, the win has firmed the gelding into BMW Caulfield Cup favouritism less than two weeks away, with Danny Nikolic to retain the ride. Sphenophyta has now had twelve starts for five wins and has banked over A$600,000 in prize money. Ballermoss's half-sister, Moss Arising, also a half-sister to dual Group 1 winner, Moss Downs, has a gelding by Strategic Image entered in the Karaka Ready to Run Sale.

New Zealand Bloodstock graduate She Will Be Loved (Strategic x Katie O'Neill) claimed another Australian stakes win for the Kiwis on Saturday with success in the Group 2 Edward Manifold Stakes (1610m) at Flemington. The three-year-old filly, bought from Blandford Lodge for NZ$110,000 at last year's Karaka Premier Sale, won by three-quarters of a length to last season's Australian Champion Two-Year-Old, Miss Finland, in second, and My Only Hope in third.

The winner of the Listed Wealleans Matamata Cup (1600m) on Saturday, dual Group winner King Of Ashford (His Royal Highness x  Zena's Wish), put the spotlight on another Karaka Ready to Run Sale entrant - the gelding by Indian Danehill ex Umhlanga Rocks - to be offered by Kaipira Lodge.  Zena's Wish is a half-sister to Umhlanga Rocks, and is the dam of 8 winners, including another stakeswinner, Govicar (by Pat's Victory).  Trained by Karen Zimmerman and part-owned by her with his breeder, Gerry Arber, King of Ashford has now won ten races from just twenty-one starts, and banked nearly $250,000 in prize money.