Blood Brotha Too Good Again

For the second year in a row, Blood Brotha (NZ) has dominated the $225,000 Group 3 Christchurch Casino 149th New Zealand Cup (3200m).

Following a similar pattern to last year, Blood Brotha (Danzighill x Laura Dee) ran an encouraging fourth in the Listed Gold Club Metropolitan Handicap on the first day of the New Zealand Cup Carnival. 

Blood Brotha careers away to win his second New Zealand Cup

Without a win to his credit since the same race last year, the addition of blinkers was welcome and after being astutely placed he also managed to carry 53 kilograms, half a kilogram less than his 2011 victory.

Given a lovely run in transit, well back on the fence with plenty of pace on up front by Lisa Allpress, he continued to save ground from the 800 metre mark along the inside and was right behind the leaders with 400 metres to run.  After getting a dream split off the bend he careered away to win by a massive six-and-a-half lengths.

Bred by brothers Brian and Hector Anderton, along with their wives Lorraine and Pat, Blood Brotha was offered by White Robe Lodge at New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2007 South Island Sale.

With his pedigree dating back to Princess Mellay who herself won two New Zealand Cups, Blood Brotha’s pedigree also features the Great Northern winner Our Jonty and Derby runner up King Johny who were also both trained by Raymond Connors and raced in conjunction with his father Mark.

Trained by Raymond Connors and raced by Mark and Raymond he has now won 7 of his 43 starts and $383,575 in stakes.