Demonetization Breaks Through $300,000 Barrier

In career-best form as a seven-year-old, Karaka graduate Demonetization (All Too Hard) has taken his career earnings past $300,000 and has his sights set on a Group One opportunity at Ellerslie.

Bought for $160,000 from the 2016 Premier Sale and $220,000 from the Ready to Run Sale later that year, Demonetization has now had 30 starts for nine wins and six placings. He has won three times at stakes level, including an outstanding performance in Saturday’s $90,000 Group Three Eagle Technology Stakes (1600m) at Te Aroha.

Sent out as one of the favourites on the strength of a dominant last-start victory at Pukekohe, Demonetization was given a dream run from the inside gate by jockey Leith Innes.

The gelding angled off the rail and went for gold at the top of the straight, taking a clear lead before repelling a fierce late challenge from fellow Karaka graduate Hypnos (NZ) (Reliable Man) to score by a neck.

Trainer Nigel Tiley is now counting down the days to the $240,000 Group One Zabeel Classic (2000m) on Boxing Day at Ellerslie. Demonetization has already proven himself at the Auckland course, winning the Group Two Auckland Guineas (1600m) there as a three-year-old and the Group Two Easter Handicap (1600m) in April of this year.

“He is in the zone at the moment and has really turned the corner since his win at Pukekohe,” Tiley told NZ Racing Desk on Saturday. “I did think he could win today, although I had a few worries as the track started to firm up, because he is at his best when he can get his toe in a little.

“I thought Leith rode him a treat. We didn’t really speak about tactics before the race, but when I saw him in the trail and lobbing along, I was pretty happy. He got to the front a touch early and is a better chaser than a leader, but when he is in front, it takes a smart horse to run him down.

“He is probably at the right stage to run a strong 2000 metres, especially considering how he finished off when he won the Easter Handicap back in April, so he deserves a crack at a Group One in a race like the Zabeel Classic. He is definitely in the top echelon of horses in New Zealand, and he deserves a place in those Group One races.

“If he performed well there, then I might also look at a hit-and-run trip to Sydney in the autumn, as they tend to get a bit of rain at that time of the year and I think he could be very competitive in the right event.”

Runner-up Hypnos was bought for $50,000 at the 2017 Select Sale. He has now earned more than $387,000 in a 34-start, five-win career.