El Segundo Sizzles

New Zealand Bloodstock graduate, El Segundo (NZ) (Pins x Palos Verdes), cemented Cox Plate favouritism by taking out the Group1 Underwood Stakes in emphatic style at Caulfield on Saturday by two and a half lengths, ahead of Polar Bear and Molotov. 

Trained by Colin Little, this latest win was on the back of another explosive performance in the Group 2 Memsie Stakes, and brings the Pins five-year-old's record to eight wins from just fourteen starts.

El Segundo was a NZ$140,000 purchase by Michael Stedman at the 2003 Karaka Premier Sale from Ancroft Stud.  He was bred by a partnership which included the proprietors, Philip & Catherine Brown. 

The gelding led the way for other New Zealand Bloodstock graduates, who showed they're on target for further Spring success, with five-year-old gelding Temple Hills (Marju x Soltanto) following up his last start win with a second to Stormhill, in the Group 2 Shannon Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill, and Growl (Montjeu x The Lion's Roar), coming third in the Listed Naturalism Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield.

There are seven progeny by the Waikato Stud stallion, Pins, entered for sale at New Zealand Bloodstock's Ready to Run Sale at Karaka on November 21 & 22.