El Segundo Heads Saturday Success for Kiwis

New Zealand Bloodstock Sale graduate El Segundo (Pins x Palos Verdes) looks certain to be one of the stars of the Spring after a flying finish in the Group 2 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday.

Trained by Colin Little and ridden smartly by Darren Gauchi, the exciting gelding made up over eight lengths down the outside of the track to score by a long neck over fellow Group 1 winners Casual Pass and Apache Cat.

A NZ$140,000 purchase by Michael Stedman, El Segundo was bred in a partnership which included Ancroft Stud proprietors, Philip and Catherine Brown, and was sold as part of their draft at the 2003 Karaka Premier Sale. Together with Legs and Econsul he is one of three Group 1 winners for his Waikato Stud based sire, Pins (by Snippets).

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�El Segundo winning the Group 1 Yalumba Stakes last year.

Justifying El Segundo's popularity in early Cox Plate betting, the win also headlined a successful Saturday of racing for New Zealand horses in Australia.

The win called a halt to the David Hayes and Craig Williams combination whose history-making wave of wins in the first five races included success with New Zealand bred horses Growl (Montjeu x The Lions Roar) and Purde (Bahhare x Dupre).

Bought by Mr BK Ma of Hong Kong at the 2004 Karaka Premier Sale, Growl took out the Listed Heatherlie Handicap (1700m) to secure his first black type win and fifth career win.

The formerly Ross McCarroll-trained Purde won the Ken King Thoroughbreds Cup (1600m). Since joining the Hayes stable she has produced six credible runs including 4th placings in two Group 1 races as well as a win in the Group 3 SAJC Auraria Stakes (1800m).

A full brother to Growl is entered in the Karaka Yearling Sales in January, with a half-brother to Purde by Stark South entered in the Karaka Ready to Run Sale on 21 & 22 November.

New Zealand horses also excelled at Rosehill with the Marie Leicester bred Activation (Zabeel x Coogee Walk) winning the Listed Georges River Golf Course Premier's Cup (1800m). Trained by Graeme Rogerson and ridden by the in-form Michael Rodd, the win was his third stakes race victory. Bart Cummings's NZ$160,000 2002 Karaka Premier Sale purchase Juerga (Kaapstad x Skylarking) was third.

Earlier in the card Rogerson scored with 2004 Karaka Premier Yearling Sale graduate Pita Hapa (Cape Cross x Hairini). The NZ$80,000 purchase from Trelawney Stud was victorious in the Ronald Coles Investment Gallery Hand (2000m). A half-sister to Pita Hapa by Cambridge Stud sire, Viking Ruler, is entered in next year's Karaka Yearling Sales.

Rodd also piloted Bart Cummings's NZ$210,000 2005 Karaka Premier Sale purchase, Empire's Choice (Redoute's Choice x Rosie's Star) to his third Group race placing in the Group 3 Tooheys New Golden Rose Stakes (1400m).

Bred and sold by Whakanui Stud, the promising colt, and grandson of Empire Rose (Sir Tristram x Summer Fleur), is aimed down a similar path to that of Pendragon (Elnadim x Alacrity) last year. Connections are looking to contest the Gloaming and Spring Champion Stakes before a decision will be made on a tilt at the VRC Derby.