Darci Brahma Guineas Glory

Darci Brahma (Danehill x Grand Echezeaux) produced another stunning run on Saturday at Riccarton to take home the top honours in the Group 1 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Two Thousand Guineas (1600m). His 3 & � length victory secured him his fourth win in a row and a total of seven wins from his nine career starts, including sensational wins in the Gr.2 Hawkes Bay Guineas and Gr.2 Wellington Guineas earlier this season.

David Ellis of Te Akau Stables paid the top price of NZ$1,100,000 for the blue-blood colt at the 2004 Karaka Premier Yearling Sale. Darci Brahma now heads out to the spelling paddock for a well earned rest before he resumes work in preparation for an Australian assault in the Autumn.

Two other highly rated hopes in the field rounded off the placings. Matamata vet, Jim Marks's NZ$140,000 2004 Ready to Run Sale purchase, Captain Kurt (Volksraad x O'Sequita) and Bob Emery's Crusoe came in second and third respectively. Emery purchased Crusoe at the 2004 Karaka Select Yearling Sale from Mapperley Stud for NZ$65,000.

Both Darci Brahma and Captain Kurt have siblings entered in next year's Karaka Premier Sale. Pencarrow Stud will offer a brother to Darci Brahma by Stravinsky while Cambridge Stud have a filly out of O'Sequita by No Excuse Needed.

The Listed Ford Welcome 2YO Stakes (1000m) produced the first black type winner in New Zealand for shuttle sire Bertolini with the Llanhennock Trust-bred Xbert (Bertolini x Al Katcha). Locally trained, Justlikethat (Danske x Lusty) came in second with Kincaple Dancer (Bertolini x Kincaple Lass) third. Paul Harris bought Justlikethat at the 2005 Karaka Select Sale for NZ$20,000 from Windsor Park Stud, who will be offering a half sister by Golan at next year's Sale. Kincaple Dancer has a sister by Faltaat entered in that Sale. Bertolini has seven entries in New Zealand Bloodstock's Ready to Run Sale starting tomorrow at Karaka.

On Wednesday at Riccarton, New Zealand Bloodstock graduate Cog Hill (Star Way x Regal Flight) scored his first win of the season in the Group 3 Couplands Bakeries Mile (1600m). Trainer Richard Collet purchased the gelding at the 2002 Select Colts Sale for NZ$24,000 from Bexley Park. Cog Hill now has a remarkable tally of 7 wins and 11 seconds from his 20 starts.

Hong Kong

New Zealand Bloodstock graduates continued on their winning way in Hong Kong yesterday, claiming 4 of the 10 races on the Sha Tin program including three New Zealand Bloodstock trifectas.

Star galloper, Vengeance Of Rain (NZ) (Zabeel x Danelagh) was back to his brilliant best taking out the feature event, The Cathay Pacific International Cup Trial (2000m). Voted the Champion Middle Distance Performer and Champion Stayer of Hong Kong last season, Vengeance Of Rain proved too good for Green Treasure (AUS) (Danehill x Sitella), while exciting galloper, Best Gift (NZ) (Bahhare x Shock Attack) closed late for third.

Vengeance Of Rain was purchased for NZ$300,000 at the 2002 Premier Yearling Sale by Graeme Rogerson for prominent Australian owner, Lloyd Williams. Trained by David Ferraris, Vengeance of Rain is now owned by Raymond Gianco Chow Hon Man.

Green Treasure, trained by Derek Cruz for Roger Li Ka Chun, was purchased by Willie Leung for NZ$300,000 from the Karaka Premier Sale in 2002, and is a full brother to Group 3 winner in Australia, Replicator. Best Gift, was offered by Wenvoe Lodge at the 2002 Select Colts Sale.

Race 1

Early in the day, the Dennis Yip trained Jiang Jun (NZ) (Danske x Carol Singer) spearheaded another New Zealand Bloodstock trifecta in the opening event on the card, the Class 4 Kap Shui Mun Handicap over 1000m. Jiang Jun prevailed by a length and three-quarters over African Forest (NZ) (Sandtrap x Straight Lady), with Wine Win (NZ) (Stravinsky x Tycoon's Gold) finishing third in his debut performance.

Jiang Jun was a NZ$34,000 purchase by Cambridge trainer, Chris Wood at the 2003 New Zealand Bloodstock Select Sale and finished second on debut prior to yesterday's success.

African Forest is a graduate of the 2002 Festival Yearling Sale, where the son of Sandtrap fetched $19,000 to the bid of Toby Autridge.

Three-year-old, Wine Win, was a NZ$180,000 purchase from the 2004 New Zealand Premier Yearling Sale, selected by Graeme Saunders from the draft of Lyndhurst Farm.

Race 4

Eric Saint-Martin guided Fortune Warrior (NZ) (Bahhare x Shivers) to victory in the Class 4 event over 1600m. Fortune Warrior defeated Join Victory (NZ) (Tale of the Cat x Tisolde) by a short head, with Nicku Nicku (NZ) (Pentire x Slick Star) a length away in third.

All three placegetters are graduates of New Zealand Bloodstock's 2002 National Yearling Sales. Fortune Warrior was a NZ$33,000 purchase from the Select Colts Sale, while Join Victory was knocked down to Rob McAnulty for NZ$60,000 at the Premier Sale. Pentire five-year-old, Nicku Nicku was another purchase from the Select Sale, by Neville Atkins for NZ$37,500.

Race 5

Members Glory (NZ) (Deputy Governor x Miss Tris), offered at the 2000 Premier Yearling Sale, was successful in the Class 4 event over 2000m, defeating promising galloper, Million Success (NZ) (Kilimanjaro x Assuage). The four-year-old son of Kilimanjaro was purchased by Ace Bloodstock for NZ$10,000 at the 2003 Autumn Yearling Sale.

Singapore

New Zealand breds won another seven of the eleven races in Singapore on Sunday following a sensational eight wins on Saturday.

Race 2: Bugsy (Royal Academy x Jennifer Rush) produced his second career win and the first win for the Kiwis in the second race of the day, the Class 5 1600 metres. He is a half brother to double Group 1 winning mare, Emerald (Grosvenor x Jennifer Rush) who has a Montjeu colt entered in next year's Karaka Premier Yearling Sale.

Race 3: 2003 Ready to Run Sale graduate, Sky Missile (Al Akbar x On The Murray) had a close victory in the Class 4 1800 meters for trainer Tony Pinfield. As part of Esker Lodge's draft, he sold to Magic Racing Bloodstock of Queensland for NZ$30,000. He has a full brother entered in the upcoming Karaka Festival Yearling Sale.

Race 4: In what was another close race, Trail Blazer (Oregon x Capelli) was able to clinch victory for Paddy Busuttin in Race 4 over 1200 metres. For his six starts he has never been unplaced for owners Cassandra and the Sunshine Stable.

Race 5: Karaka Ready to Run Sale graduate, Gemini (Danewin x Amalee) and The Hatchet Man (Quorum x Cumleigh Star) teamed up to make a New Zealand quinella in the Graduation 1200 metres. Gemini was bought by Ron Cook of Victoria at the 2002 Sale for NZ$75,000 from Lyndhurst Farm.

Race 6: Nozomi Zoom (Green Perfume x Trio) won the Open Benchmark 53 over 1200 metres ahead of fellow New Zealand bred, Flying Rainbow (Diamond Express x Kaapstine). Nozomi Zoom is a graduate of Chequers Stud's draft at the 2002 Ready to Run Sale. Peter Muscutt paid NZ$38,000 for the half to Group 1 winner Sale of the Century (Prized x Trio). A sister to Nozomi Zoom by Black Minnaloushe is to be offered by Chequers Stud at the 2006 Karaka Premier Yearling Sale.

Race 7: In the feature race of the night, the Singapore Gold Cup Group 1 (1200m), NZ galloper Mount Street (Kilimanjaro x Real Trier) had to settle for second place to Terfel. Trained by Laurie Laxon and owned by the Golden Triumph Stable, he is a half brother to triple Group 1 winner, Sedecrem. Mount Street was sold as a weanling at Karaka for NZ$34,000.

Race 8: My Royal Captain (Zabeel x Kiwi Magic) produced his third win from three starts in Race 8, the Novice 1600m ahead of Stormy (Cape Cross x Penang Rose). Bloodstock agent, Rob McAnulty purchased the son of champion sire Zabeel at the 2004 Karaka Premier Yearling Sale from Haunui Farm for NZ $120,000.

Race 11: Player's (Haayil x Our Catarina) rounded off the success with his win in the last of the day, the Open Benchmark 81 over 1200 metres. New Zealand breds, Senor John (Senor Pete x Tudor Power) and Ocean Dancer (Senor Pete x Malibu) rounded off the placings. Bloodstock agent Stuart Hale purchased Player's at the 2001 Karaka Select Sale from Hallmark Stud for NZ$35,000. Senor John was sold at the same sale for NZ$12,000 by Hallmark Stud and again by Esker Lodge at the 2001 South Island Sale for NZ $25,000. Puketoki Farm sold Ocean Dancer at the 2002 Select Sale for $13,000.