Fox Swipes Champagne Stakes

Swiper The Fox (NZ) made it two two-year-old stakes victories for New Zealand Bloodstock graduates on Saturday when coming from last to win the $50,000 Listed Novotel Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Ellerslie.

Ridden by Jason Collett, Swiper The Fox (Align x Canzano) was a clear last coming into the straight spotting the leaders many lengths but produced a smart turn of foot to run down the field in the final 100 metres to win by a neck.

The Leo Molloy trained gelding came into the race off a last start victory at Counties where he came from the back with a well-timed run, breaking his maiden by half-a-length.

Bred by Carter Bloodstock Ltd, Swiper The Fox was purchased by Molloy's M Racing from Fernbrook Farms at New Zealand Bloodstock's 2011 Karaka Festival Sale for $40,000. Raced by B Gibson, Michael Stiassny and the Sutherland Family Trust, his two career wins have earned his connections over $35,000 from his seven starts.

The stakes win capped of a successful weekend for Brent Gillovic's Highview Stud which sold the Group 3 Kindergarten Stakes winner Dances On Stars and also stands Swiper The Fox's sire Align. Swiper The Fox is the seventh stakes winner for Align, who has also sired Group 1 winning Two-Year-Olds Fully Fledged and New Zealand's 2007 Champion Two-Year-Old Nightline.

Fully Fledged now stands at Fairdale Stud and saw his first yearlings offered at New Zealand Bloodstock's 2012 Karaka Yearling Sales where they sold up to $75,000 at the Karaka Select Sale. A share in Align will be offered at New Zealand Bloodstock's upcoming National Weanling, Broodmare & Mixed Bloodstock Sale from 7 May.