Festival Sale Jewel Shows Exquisite Class

Promising three-year-old filly Exquisite Jewel (NZ) (Lucky Unicorn) gained valuable black-type with victory in the Group 3 $70,000 Higgin’s Manawatu Classic (2000m) on Saturday at Awapuni.

Equisite Jewel (NZ) victors in the Group 3 Higgin's Manawatu Classic. Photo courtesy of Race Images Palmerston North.

A bargain $400 purchase from the 2013 Karaka Festival Sale, this was Exquisite Jewel’s first stakes win from her 13 starts. With four wins in total, she won her first race as a two-year-old over 1400m and has since placed third in the Group 3 Desert Gold Stakes and finished fourth in her last start in the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks for trainers Sue Walsh and Bruce Gregory.

“It was a very tough effort,” commented Walsh. “She was three-wide without cover for most of the trip but she managed to out stay the rest.

“Robbie (Hannam) has ridden her at the jump-outs and trials before she ever raced and so we are loyal to him. He has got to know her very well - she likes to cover ground and be out rolling with a bit of room around her and Robbie likes to ride her like that.”

Jockey Robert Hannam continued his association with Exquisite Jewel as they contested the 16-horse field from barrier 12. Racing three-wide, Exquisite Jewel travelled mid-field, nine lengths from the leader as they swung off the back of the track.

Homeward bound, Exquisite Jewel challenged the front runners, racing through the centre of the track and swept to the lead for a three-quarter-length victory over Werther (NZ) (Tavistock), who finished in second place, and Charmont (High Chaparral) in third place.

“She will probably head to Auckland next on the 18th April,” commented Walsh.

The Foxton based filly has now earned $77,000 in prizemoney for her owners Mrs BG & R Bently, DG Kirkwood, Miss PA Lane & Caroline Marner.

Caroline Marner purchased the Lucky Unicorn filly at the 2013 Karaka Festival Sale for $400 from Brighthill Farm.

Bred by Sir Patrick and Lady Hogan, the three-year-old filly is out of Game Duchess (Montjeu) and is a half-sister to Australian stakes placegetter Nordic Duke (Viking Ruler), second placed in the Listed Anzac Day Stakes. Her third dam is Group 1 winner Marquise (Gold and Ivory) and is from the family that includes Group 1 winner Shower of Roses (Zabeel), Octagonal (Zabeel), Diamond Lover (Sticks and Stones), Don Eduardo (Zabeel), Tristalove (Sir Tristram) and Viking Ruler (Danehill).