Bazelle Spearheads Fitting Quinella in Group 1 Zabeel Classic

The Paul Jenkins trained Bazelle (Zabeel x Show Games) recorded her second Group One victory when successful in the race named after her famous sire, the Gr.1 Zabeel Classic (2000m).

First up since disappointing in this year's Melbourne Cup, Bazelle provided rider, Jason Waddell, with his first Group One success.

In a fitting result, Bazelle, prevailed narrowly from another daughter of Zabeel in Kind Return (Zabeel x Kindness), a half sister to Group One winning two-year old, Kindacross (Cape Cross), who now races in Hong Kong.

Bazelle is part owned by breeder Lorna Moore, who will offer a three-quarter brother to the dual Group One winner at New Zealand Bloodstock's Premier Yearling Sale, through the draft of close friend Jeanette Broome's Loch-Haven Thoroughbreds. The colt is by Zabeel from Arena Pride, a Nassipour half sister to Bazelle.

Focal Point (Kashani x Key Issue) filled third place, making it a trifecta for mares in the weight for age event.

Kind Return was sold for $110,000 at the 2002 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale, while Focal Point was purchased for $5,500 at the 2002 Festival Yearling Sale by trainer Donna Logan.

New Zealand Bloodstock's Premier Yearling Sale will see a total of 24 yearlings by Cambridge Stud's champion sire, Zabeel, go under the hammer.

Sculptor Surprises with Great Northern Guineas Victory

The Peter McKenzie owned and trained, Sculptor (His Royal Highness x Betelgeuse) surprised many when proving too good for his opposition in the Gr.2 Speights Great Northern Guineas (2000m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.

McKenzie, who stands Sculptor's sire, His Royal Highness, at his Strathcorran Stud near Levin was thrilled with the victory, after his charge endured a luckless campaign in Australia in Spring.

His Royal Highness is represented by 4 yearlings at the forth coming Select Yearling Sale, with a further 3 yearlings catalogued for the Festival Yearling Sale.

Sculptor started at odds of more than 30-1 and was well ridden by Lee Tiley to defeat the highly fancied Black Panther (Kaapstad x Toonsie), who made up good ground for second, while Darringdo (Almutawakel x Punctual) finished in third.

Monday's Great Northern Guineas was the final leg of the New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance Triple Crown Series. However, with the first two legs being taken out by Black Panther and Willie Ryan respectively, no horse was eligible for the $100,000 bonus for winning all three legs.

Borninthestates Claims Dunedin Guineas

In what was a big day for former shuttle sire, Chief Bearhart (Grand Lodge x Amelia Bearhart), in addition to the Group Two victory by his daughter, Shikoba, at Ellerslie, the son of Grand Lodge was also represented by Law Courts Hotel / Cobb & Co Dunedin Guineas winner, Borninthestates (Chief Bearhart x Emanation) on Boxing Day.

Borninthestates is trained by Michael Pittman and was purchased by Brian Jenkins for $19,000 at the 2004 New Zealand Bloodstock Festival Yearling Sale from the draft of Raffles Farm.

Ridden by Chris Johnson, Borninthestates defeated Mystify (Montjeu x Seamist) and Southern Courage (Bahhare x Calm Courage) in the 1600m event.

Southern Courage was purchased for $32,000 at the 2004 Select Yearling Sale by Celebrity Thoroughbreds.

The following event at the Otago Meeting saw five-year old mare, Likes To Rule (Deputy Governor x Bluebird Dancer) successful in the Listed Livingspace Stakes (2070m).

Trained by Nikki Blatch, Likes To Rule defeated Mactomack (Frenchpark x Lustral) and Get Up (Turbulent Dancer x Get Down).

Likes To Rule was offered at the 2002 Select Yearling Sale, while a half brother to Get Up by D'Cash will be offered by Sovereign Lodge at next month's Festival Yearling Sale.

Aqua d'Amore Continues Fine Form with Group 3 Success

The Gai Waterhouse trained, Aqua d'Amore (Danehill x Romantic River) continued on her winning way, taking the Gr. 3 Summer Cup in Sydney on Boxing Day.

The daughter of Danehill had been successful in the Gr.2 AJC Canon Bernborough Villiers Stakes (1600m) on December 17 and had no difficulties with the rise in distance to 2400m of the Summer Cup.

Aqua d'Amore easily accounted for the Kris Lees trained County Tyrone (Danewin x Nice Choice), while Beat The Tide (All Ashore x Can You Beat That) finished third.

Curraghmore Stud will offer a three-quarter sister to Aqua d'Amore at next month's New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale, being by first season sire, Rock Of Gibraltar from the Irish River mare, Romantic River.

Sir James Lodge will offer a colt from the family of Aqua d'Amore at the Select Yearling Sale. Lot 806 is a colt by Umatilla from Dorado Deceiver, a Lure half sister to Aqua d'Amore.

Two-Year Old Winner, Jumlah, Another Successful Karaka Graduate

The David Hayes trained, Jumlah (Catbird x Marlo Waters) blitzed her rivals in taking out the juvenile event at Sandown on Saturday, winning the Starlet Plate (1000m) by 3 and � lengths despite starting from the outside barrier.

Jumlah was purchased from this year's New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale by Shadwell Stud Australasia for $120,000 from the draft of Janine Dunlop's Phoenix Park.

Jumlah was ridden by Craig Williams and defeated Fun In Flight (Fusaichi Pegasus x Hanky Panky) and stablemate, Senorita De Lago (Encosta de Lago x Revamp).

Jumlah is not the only Karaka 05 graduate to impress in the early two-year-old events in Melbourne. The Mathew Ellerton trained, She Will be Loved (Strategic x Katie O'Neill) impressed on debut at Flemington recently, taking out the VRC Festive Season 2YO Plate.

Jumlah's sire, Catbird, will be represented by 4 yearlings at New Zealand Bloodstock's upcoming National Yearling Sales Series, commencing on January 30.

Meanwhile in Melbourne on Boxing Day, the Robbie Laing trained Botero (Pentire x Another Sound) collected further black type when runner up in the Listed Lord Stakes (1720m) at Flemington behind another Hayes trained runner, in Ulysses (Fasliyev x Striking Destiny). Trelawney Stud will offer a full sister to Botero in the Select Yearling Sale on behalf of Sam Kelt's Keltern Stud.

Royal Pericles Continues Good Run For Stravinsky

Cambridge Stud based sire, Stravinsky (Nureyev x Fire The Groom) has enjoyed a flurry of winners in recent times, with the latest being the ultra impressive juvenile, Royal Pericles, winner of the New Zealand Herald 2YO (1100m) at Ellerslie on Monday for trainer Bruce Wallace.

Wallace outlaid $65,000 for the grey son of Stravinsky and the Bluebird mare, Magpies, at this year's New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale and the Auckland trainer is quickly seeing a return on his investment, with Royal Pericles recording easy victories at Te Aroha (on debut) and now Ellerslie.

Danasinga colt, Habana (ex Kohinoor) chased Royal Pericles home at Ellerslie, while Sheezasport (Elnadim x Sportsgirl Miss), a $26,000 purchase from the Select Yearling Sale finished third.

Wentwood Grange will offer a Faltaat half brother to Royal Pericles at the forthcoming Select Yearling Sale.

Meanwhile, at Waipa on Saturday, the Tim Carter trained, Shake It (Stravinsky x Crimson) made a one act affair of the Elite Engineering Ltd Maiden Stakes over 1150m, winning on debut in impressive fashion. A three-year old colt, Shake It was purchased by Tommy Cheung of Macau at the 2004 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale and is from the Group 2 winning mare Crimson (by Zabeel), who is also a half sister to Omnicorp and Pharostan.

On Friday night, Napa Sky (Stravinsky x Tricia Ann) blitzed her rivals over 1000m at Moonee Valley in taking out the Tony McEvoy Handicap and was one of four winners on the evening for trainer Peter Moody. Napa Sky is a full sister to multiple New Zealand Stakes winner, La Sizeranne and was purchased for $250,000 at the 2004 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale by Mark Pilkington. Napa Sky's dam, Tricia Ann, is a Zabeel three-quarter sister to Group One winners, Grosvenor (Sir Tristram) and National Gallery (Sir Tristram).

In Hong Kong on Monday, Stravinsky notched up a notable double including success by four-year-old Kingston Marble (Stravinsky x Misty Gulch) in a Class 4 event over 1000m. Also victorious was the former Alan Jones trained speedster, Alinsky (Stravinsky x Alynda), winner of the Class 2 Lantau Peak Handicap (1200m) in impressive fashion.

Stravinsky's American bred son, Chinese Dragon took out the first division of the Sir Beaufort Stakes (1600m) at Santa Anita on Monday, nosing out Hockey the General. Becrux, the early pacesetter, was third, while Buzzards Bay, the Santa Anita Derby winner, finished seventh.

Chinese Dragon won four races, including three stakes events earlier this year before suffering a splint injury. Trainer Bob Hess will target the Grade 1, $300,000 Kilroe Mile on March 4 with Chinese Dragon.

Stravinsky is represented by 36 yearlings in total across the three sales sessions at Karaka, with 26 yearlings catalogued for New Zealand Bloodstock's Premier Yearling Sale next month.