Black-type Return for Karaka Broodmare Buy

With the 2019 Karaka May Sale less than two weeks away, an astute broodmare purchase at the 2016 edition of the sale earned a valuable black-type reward at Riccarton on Saturday.

Well-bred mare Rosecroft (NZ) (Montjeu) was bought for just $7,000 by Canterbury owner-breeder Stephanie Rathgen. Rosecroft was in foal to the quality former Haunui Farm shuttle stallion Showcasing (Oasis Dream).

The resulting foal was named All About Magic (NZ), and she became a stakes winner with a stylish performance in Saturday’s $50,000 Listed Berkley Stud Champagne Stakes (1200m) at Riccarton.

Ridden by Lisa Allpress for local trainers Michael and Matthew Pitman, the attractive near-black filly raced away from her rivals in the closing stages of the race to win by two and a half lengths.

Now the winner of three of her five starts and $61,870 in stakes, All About Magic is worth considerably more than that.

Her granddam is the Group 1 performer Soltanto (NZ) (Tights), from a famous family that has produced top-class gallopers such as Soliloquy (NZ) (Sobig), Solveig (NZ) (Imposing), Culminate (NZ) (Elnadim), Jon Snow (NZ) (Iffraaj) and many more.

“She’s very valuable now,” said Michael Pitman’s wife Diane. “She’s from one of the very good families, and they’ve all been lovely dark fillies like her. She’s got everything going for her.

“She looked great today. She’s a very smart horse.”

The 2019 edition of Karaka’s Weanling, Broodmare and Mixed Bloodstock Sale, which is now known as the Karaka May Sale, will be held on 17 May.