Chinese New Year Celebrations for Karaka Graduates

Celebrations at race meetings in Hong Kong and Singapore last night brought in the Chinese New Year with plenty of colour and festivities with Karaka graduates building on past success to win half the carded races in both countries.

With the year of the tiger said to be 'the big and bold year where everything is taken to its limit', Karaka graduates made a lucky start by winning 11 of the 21 races staged.

Singapore

Six of the ten races held at Kranji last night were taken by Karaka graduates, including the feature Sing-3 Fortune Bowl (2000m) by Stephen Gray's Goldschatz (Pins x Centri Belle, by Centaine).

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�Goldschatz wins the Fortune Cup

The six-year-old son of Pins has now put five wins together on the trot, a haul which included the very first Group race held on Singapore's polytrack, the Sing-3 Proinn Construct Stakes (1700m) on 4 December.

Ridden by Vlad Duric, Goldschatz was asked to sit just behind the speed in third place, a position which allowed him to pounce on the pace-setting pair of Escamonda and Kin Keseki. With 300m to go Goldschatz had assumed the front and he held on to score by half a length in the finish.

Owned by Stephan Herzog, Goldschatz was purchased as a two-year-old for NZ$12,000 at New Zealand Bloodstock's 2005 Spring Mixed Bloodstock Sale and has now won almost $600,000 in prize-money. Singapore's super stayer now takes aim at the Group 1 Singapore Airlines International Cup (2000m) set for 16 May.

Stephen Gray was joined by fellow New Zealanders Laurie Laxon (Harrison (Spectatorial) and Big Minako (Black Minnaloushe)) and Bruce Marsh (King Faalcon (Faltaat) and Justice (Keeper)) as winning Karaka trainers on the night, while successful owner Jayven See (Raliegh (O'Reilly)) was represented with a winner from the Michael Clements stable, and Brian Dean trained Powerful Ruler (Viking Ruler) to his fifth career win.

Hong Kong

Five Karaka graduates took first prize in Hong Kong overnight, with fellow NZ-breds Super Satin (Danehill Dancer) and Beauty Flash (Golan) also running close second and third placings in the feature HK-2 Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Derby Trial (1800m).

Most progressive Brave Kid (Elusive City x Gordon's, by Kaapstad) took his unbeaten record to five wins from as many starts in the Peach Blossom Handicap (1600m).

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�A packed Sha Tin grandstand on Chinese New Year Race Day

His first start beyond 1400m never looked a worry, settling fourth on the fence for Douglas Whyte before taking over in the home straight and running out a length winner in 1.35.35.

Trained by John Size, four-year-old Brave Kid is in his derby year and looks likely to be given his shot at Hong Kong's most prestigious race on 14 March.

Being out of Group 2 Hawke's Bay Cup (2200m) and Group 3 Manawatu Classic (2000m) winner Gordon's, Brave Kid has the pedigree to be competitive at the 2000m Hong Kong Derby distance.

Offered by Rodmor Stud at the 2007 Karaka Premier Sale, Brave Kid is now raced Mr and Mrs Matthew Lam Kin Hong for whom he has won over HK$2,500,000.

Paul O'Sullivan provided more Kiwi flavour to the Chinese New Year celebrations with his charge Aashiq (Viking Ruler x Join the Fun, by Rory's Jester) making it back to back wins after scoring by three-quarters of a length in the Kung Hei Handicap (1400m).

Also in his Derby year, Aashiq is a half-brother to smart Richard Collett trained three-year-old Finderskeepers (Keeper), who is Group 2 Avondale Guineas placed this season, with Aashiq's full-brother bought at the recent Karaka Select Yearling Sale by Albizia Lodge for $130,000 by Michael Stedman Bloodstock.

Aashiq himself has now won over HK$1,600,000 (NZ$) for the Indian Horse Lovers Syndicate after being purchased by Lance O'Sullivan from Brighthill Farm at the 2007 Karaka Carnival Sale for $40,000.

Further Hong Kong success came through 2008 Hong Kong International Sale graduates Mark Up (Ishiguru x Wauwinet) for Casper Fownes, and Cristal Magnum (Pins x Cenphic) for Tony Cruz, while Ricky Yiu's $30,000 Karaka Ready to Run Sale purchase Plentiful (Mossman x Dapper's Pride) also won on the night.