Go Racing and Karaka Quinella in Trans Tasman Trophy

In a fitting result for New Zealand Bloodstock’s inaugural New Zealand-themed raceday at Newcastle in the Hunter Valley, kiwi syndicators Go Racing celebrated a quinella with a pair of Karaka graduates in Saturday’s A$130,000 Alf Kneebone Trans Tasman Trophy (1850m). 

Named in honour of respected journalist Alf Kneebone, the race celebrates talented trainers produced by New Zealand and Australia and is restricted to horses whose trainers were born in either country.

Both of Go Racing’s star performers, the winner Mightybeel (NZ) (Savabeel) and runner-up Lord Ardmore (NZ) (Reliable Man), are trained by champion expat New Zealand trainer Chris Waller – an inductee into the Racing Halls of Fame on both sides of the Tasman.

Mightybeel was ridden by superstar Kiwi jockey James McDonald and produced a strong finish from the back to overhaul the front-running Lord Ardmore and score by a length and a half.

Bought by Go Racing for $200,000 from Little Avondale Stud’s draft in Book 1 of Karaka 2019, Mightybeel has now had 11 starts for four wins, three placings and A$177,455 in stakes. Runner-up Lord Ardmore cost the Go Racing team $65,000 at the same sale, and he has earned A$145,439.

“Well done to the Go Racing team,” Waller’s stable representative Damien Fitton said at Newcastle on Saturday. “They’re good owners, and I’m sure they are cheering back in New Zealand.

“Mightybeel was strong. He switched off nicely and got into a lovely rhythm, and he has just been a model of consistency this preparation, so it is great to see him put another one on the board.

“Credit to Lee Magorrian on Lord Ardmore, he set a nice pace but didn’t go too quick and gave his horse every chance as well, and the better horse won on the day.”

The Alf Kneebone Trans Tasman Trophy was just one of the highlights on a superb day of racing, in which New Zealand Bloodstock was the principal sponsor for the meeting and also sponsored four undercard races.

The A$160,000 Group Three New Zealand Bloodstock NJC Spring Stakes (1600m) was won by Festival Dancer (Choisir), while Torrens (Adelaide) took out the A$300,000 Visit Karaka 2022 The Beauford (2300m). The A$130,000 NZB Airfreight Max Lees Classic (900m) went to Russian Conquest (Russian Revolution).

The New Zealand flag also flew high in the richest race of the day, the A$1m The Hunter (1300m), which was impressively won by Lost And Running (NZ) (Per Incanto). Bred and part-owned by Lib Petagna’s JML Bloodstock, the exciting gelding has now won seven of his 12 starts and more than A$2.2 million. He also finished fourth in the A$15m The Everest (1200m) at Randwick in October.