Catalonia a Karaka Million Contender
17 December 2012
Exciting two-year-old colt Catalonia (NZ) lived up to the hype and hinted at greater things at Te Rapa on Saturday with a commanding victory in the $50,000 Listed Wentwood Grange Stakes (1100m).
The win has seen Catalonia (Commands x Valpolicella) take his stakes earnings to $33,500, enough to take him straight to third place in the Karaka Million Order of Entry behind current leaders Ruud Awakening (Bernardini) and Dancer’s Tale (Tale of the Cat).
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Catalonia has a half-sister by Redoute’s Choice |
Trained by Jason Bridgman, Catalonia was installed a short $1.90 favourite for Saturday’s Listed race after winning both of his trials and running second to Bounding on debut at Ellerslie.
Yesterday’s race saw Catalonia settle off the speed under jockey Mathew Cameron, a different tactic to that seen on debut where he led the field, and the colt was too good as he shot away to a dominant three length victory.
“He was very impressive,” commented David Ellis who purchased the horse from Haunui Farm at New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2012 Karaka Premier Sale for $150,000.
“He’s an absolute professional and I think he’s right up there with Darci Brahma, King’s Chapel and Maroofity which are among the best two-year-olds we have had.
“Mark (Walker) and I saw him at the Karaka Sales and we were always going to buy him. He was Lot 4 in the Sale so we were lucky as if he was offered later in the Sale he might have made a lot more.
“He was one of three winners we purchased from the Premier Sale that won for us over the weekend with Flying Fulton (Flying Spur) and Select Gathering (Choisir) both winning their races in Singapore.”
Last start debut winner Gateway (Coats Choice) finished second in the race earning $10,000 – taking her to sixth on the Karaka Million Order of Entry – with Total Response (Kheleyf) finishing third in her debut, earning $5,000, and completing the trifecta for Karaka graduates.
Bred by Haunui Bloodstock, Frantic Bloodstock and Garry Cranny, Catalonia is raced by prominent Singapore owner Tang Weng Fai, owner of Better Than Ever (French Deputy) who has returned to race in New Zealand after successfully racing in Singapore.
Haunui Farm will offer a three-quarter sister to Catalonia by champion sire Redoute’s Choice at the 2013 Karaka Premier Sale at Lot 414.
Catalonia is the first foal from his dam Valpolicella (Red Ransom) who is a Group 3 winner and a descendant from Haunui Farm’s foundation family. The family has enjoyed a successful last 12 months with three two-year-old stakes winners in Pussy Willow (O’Reilly), Dancer’s Tale and now Catalonia.
Haunui Farm will be offering three yearlings by Redoute’s Choice including the colt from the Fusaichi Pegasus mare Bonaichi (Lot 43) and the colt from the Group 1 winning Stravinsky mare Captivate (Lot 56).
Haunui Farm had a highly successful day at Te Rapa with Annie Higgins (O’Reilly) – bred and owned by Marie Leicester and born and raised at Haunui Farm – winning the Group 3 Waikato Gold Cup.