Gold Sand Continues Karaka’s Hot Run

A stellar six days on the turf have seen Karaka graduates win eight stakes races – four at Group 1 level – with Gold Sand the latest black-type victor in yesterday’s A$80,000 Listed C S Hayes Memorial Cup (1600m) at Morphettville.

The son of Footstepsinthesand (ex Quinze Love) has continued trainers Lee & Shannon Hope’s success with Karaka graduates this season as the pair also train NZB Ready to Run Sale graduate Folding Gear (Johar) who won the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes in the spring.

Gold Sand has proven a tough performer during his career with yesterday’s win his ninth from 25 starts and his first at stakes level. Backed into a $2.50 favourite for the C S Hayes Memorial Cup with jockey Craig Williams in the saddle, the six-year-old dug deep after hitting the front 200 metres from home and held on to record a three-quarter length victory.

This campaign saw Gold Sand step up to stakes level for the first time in his career with yesterday’s race his fifth in black-type company. He resumed fresh up in December with a good fourth in the Listed Xmas Stakes at Caulfield and also ran fourth at his last start in the Listed Kilmore Cup.

Gold Sand was bred by Dr D O'Brien, is raced by Mr A Birrell, Mrs M Birrell, Mr M Birrell, Mrs N Birrell, Mr J Sylvester, Mr P De Kretser & Mrs S De Kretser and has now earned over A$235,000.

He was purchased by Alan Sharrock from Sam Munro’s Halo Farm at New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2008 Karaka Select Sale for $57,500. Gold Sand is the 20th stakes winner for his sire Footstepsinthesand.