Demonetization Heads Karaka Dominance in Tauranga Stakes

The unfortunate postponement of a huge day at Riccarton significantly reduced the number of black-type prizes on offer in New Zealand on Saturday, but graduates of New Zealand Bloodstock sales took full advantage in the one feature race that remained. 

Horses bought at Karaka finished first, second and third in the $120,000 Group Two Gartshore Tauranga Stakes (1600m), with Demonetization (All Too Hard) leading the charge. Bought for $160,000 as a yearling and $220,000 at the 2016 Ready to Run Sale, the quality gelding has won 10 of his 39 starts and more than $424,000 in stakes.

Prise De Fer (NZ) (Savabeel) finished second, lifting his return to $602,225 from a $100,000 purchase price at Karaka 2017. The third-placed Deerfield (NZ) (Falkirk) cost $80,000 at the 2015 Select Sale and has banked $364,705.

But this was Demonetization’s day, providing another timely reminder of the quality horses available at the Ready to Run Sale. The 2022 edition of the world-renowned sale of two-year-olds takes place at Karaka on Wednesday and Thursday, with selling starting at 11am each day.

Demonetization was ridden on Saturday by visiting South African rider Craig Zackey, who dropped back to the tail of the field in the early stages before beginning to warm his mount through his gears coming up to the home turn.

Demonetization and Prise De Fer swept to the lead together in the straight, and Demonetization got the upper hand in a tight tussle to the line to win by a long neck. Deerfield set the pace and stuck on solidly for third, three-quarters of a length behind the first pair.

This was the fourth stakes win for Demonetization, who had previously captured the Group Two Auckland Guineas (1600m), Group Two Easter Handicap (1600m) and Group Three Eagle Technology Stakes (1600m). He has placed in a further five black-type races.

“He is just such an honest horse and knows where the winning post is,” trainer Nigel Tiley said. “He gives his all every time he goes out there. Although he’s a little older now, he is certainly a bit wiser and knows what the game is all about.

“He is at the top of the handicaps, so he is weighted out of the big miles around Christmas time. I would think we will look at some weight-for-age options in the autumn.

“Right now, he is going for a break. He has been up for a long time and deserves a nice spell.”

Meanwhile, the three feature races that were lost from Riccarton on Saturday – including the Group One Barneswood Farm 50th New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m), which is a crucial leg of the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series – will be staged on Monday afternoon.