Gallions Reach Group 1 Winner Number Nineteen
29 December 2008
Gallions Reach became the nineteenth New Zealand Bloodstock graduate to win a Group 1 race in 2008 when he won the $200,000 Zabeel Classic (2000m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.
The 2004 Festival Sale graduate won the Group 1 feature in dazzling style, settling beautifully for jockey Sam Spratt, before New Zealand's leading rider ignited the six-year-old gelding close to home to win by a long neck in a blanket finish. Fellow Karaka graduate Willy Smith (Volksraad) and Overkaast (Kaapstad) were a close second and third.
Gallions Reach (Victory Dance - Dorinka, by Straight Strike) was purchased by owner David Archer for $40,000 from breeder Newmarket Lodge at the Festival Sale, and he is now conditioned by Richard Yuill.
The Festival Sale has enjoyed a stellar year with the session also responsible for 2008 Group 1 winners Altered Image (Strategic Image), Eskimo Queen (Shinko King) and Group 1 Melbourne Cup place-getter C'est La Guerre (Shinko King).
The 2009 Karaka Festival Sale will see 525 individuals presented for auction over two days, on 1 and 2 February. This year's Sale boasts quality in proportions never seen before with double the number of siblings to stakes winners offered compared to 2007, and three times as many yearlings out of stakes winners than the 2007 Sale.
Earlier in the day Le Baron (Golan - Dame Mapperly, by Volksraad) looked as though he would be a solid chance of adding to the Karaka graduate Group 1 success in 2009 with an impressive performance for victory in the Group 2 $150,000 Great Northern Guineas (2100m).
A key lead up to the $2,200,000 Telecom New Zealand Derby, the race was hotly contested by a field of eleven runners, with Le Baron starting favourite after his last start victory in the Listed Great Northern Guineas Prelude. The son of Golan, trained by Dean and Donna Logan, and Chris Gibbs, settled towards the rear of the field for jockey James McDonald, with a solid tempo in the race being set by stable mate Elbaz (Zabeel), also owned by Dominic Li.
Approaching the home turn the bay gelding had a mountain of work to do from the rear of the field but to his credit Le Baron motored down the outside of the track to get up for victory in the shadow of the post. His sustained burst suggested that the 2400m of the Derby should be ideal on 28 February.
Le Baron sold through the Karaka salesring twice, his last appearance at the 2007 Ready to Run Sale where he was bought by Hong Kong owner, Dominic Li, for $140,000 from Chesterfields.
Golan progeny had an outstanding weekend of racing with Castle Heights (ex Caernafon, by Volksraad) winning the Dunstan Feeds Championship Qualifier (2100m) for the same trainers as Le Baron, and Sarge in Charge (ex Dainty, by Fairy King) jumping to top spot in the $1,000,000 Karaka Million Order of Entry with a scintillating win in Brisbane for Liam Birchley.
Group 1 English Two Thousand Guineas (1600m) winner Golan will be represented by 19 yearlings at Karaka in 2009, including:
Lot 130 - B.F. Golan - Misskap, by Kaapstad - Windsor Park Stud Ltd.
This filly is a full sister to Kibbutz, winner of the 2007 Group 1 VRC Derby.
Lot 162 - B.C. Golan - Our Sportsgirl, by Desert Sun - Windsor Park Stud Ltd.
This colt represents the same Golan/Green Desert cross as Le Baron and Castle Heights. He is a half brother to Group placed Reuben Thorn (Thorn Park), and out of a half-sister to Group 1 NZ Derby winner Wahid.