First Class Form From $500,000 Mercedes 2yo Classique

With just two weeks to go until New Zealand's richest race for two-year-olds, the $500,000 Mercedes 2YO Classique, it is timely to cast a look back to last years race � and have a look at the top form that's come out of it!

The 2003 race has proven a great form lead with a significant number of last years runners going on to win and place in feature Group races later in their two-year-old year as well as their three-year-old careers to date.

King's Chapel (King of King's x Lower Chapel) the winner of last years race went on to win the Gr. 1 Two Thousand Guineas at Riccarton Park, Christchurch. King's Chapel also won the Listed Ray Coupland Stakes and Listed Canterbury Stakes and placed third in the Gr. 1 Bayer Classic.

King's Chapel is also a favoured runner in the Gr. 1 Telegraph Handicap this Saturday 17th January at Trentham, Wellington.

Three-year-old sprint revelation Pay My Bail (Justice Prevails x Ebony Jane), who only cost $2,000 as a Festival Sale yearling has run huge races this season.

In her last start Pay My Bail placed 2nd in the Gr. 1 Railway Handicap at Ellerslie, Auckland. Pay My Bail is the winner of the Gr. 2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes and the Gr. 3 Lion Red Plate. Pay My Bail is the winner of three Listed races and placed 3rd in the Gr. 3 Highview Gold Trail Stakes.

The Stephen & Trevor McKee trained Pay My Bail is currently the pre-post favourite for the Gr. 1 Telegraph Handicap.

Mark Walker, who trains King's Chapel also trains two-time Gr. 1 winner and Champion Two Year Old, Maroofity (Maroof x Howkudai). Maroofity is the winner of the Gr. 1 ARC Ellerslie Sires' Produce Stakes and the Gr. 1 Manuwatu Sires' Produce Stakes. Maroofity came into last years race the as the winner of the Gr. 2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes and Listed Welcome Stakes and rattled home into 5th place in the Mercedes Classique.

Promising Mike Moroney and Andrew Scott trained three-year-old Ubiquitous (Tale of the Cat x Zahra), is the winner of the Gr. 3 ARC Kings Plate on Derby Day at Ellerslie. Ubiquitous came into the Classique last year the winner of the Gr. 3 ARC Eclipse Stakes and after finishing 7th in the Classique at his next start he won the Listed Slipper Stakes.

Both Eftee One (Volksraad x Bashful Lady) and Danette (Dankse x Amynette) have been running useful races of late and have earned themselves 6 and 5 points respectively in the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series.

Eftee One trained by Richard Dee & Matthew Dixon, placed 2nd in the Gr. 2 ARC Eight Carat Classic and in her last start placed 3rd in the Gr. 2 ARC Royal Stakes at Ellerslie. Eftee One is now going for the Gr. 1 ING New Zealand Oaks at Trentham on Saturday.

Danette who is trained by Dick & Chris Bothwell, placed 3rd in the Gr. 2 ARC Eight Carat Stakes and placed 2nd in the Gr. 3 Lowland Stakes.

The live barrier draw for the 2004 $500,000 Mercedes 2YO Classique (R) Listed will take place at the New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Sales Centre prior to the start of the final Premier Sale Session, just before 1pm on Wednesday 28 January and will again be televised on Sky Digital and Trackside.

The schedule for Sky Digital coverage of the New Zealand Bloodstock 78th National Yearling Sales Premier Sale is:

Monday - Sky Sport 3 (Channel 12 on digital service)
� Noon till 1pm - live Preview Show
� Live selling of every lot from 1pm to close of selling

Tuesday - Sky Sport 3 (Channel 12 on digital service)
� Noon till 1pm - live Preview Show
� Live selling of every lot from 1pm to close of selling

Wednesday - Sky Sport 2 (Channel 11 on digital service)
� Noon till 1pm - live Preview Show
� Live selling of remainder of Premier Sale catalogue

All yearlings purchased at this months National Yearlings Sales Series will be eligible, without enrolment fee for the $500,000 2YO Classique scheduled for January 2005.