Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Sprint for Hoofit?

Last season's Listed Bonecrusher Stakes winner Hoofit (NZ) has made a flying start to his racing career in America when taking his first US stakes victory at Keenland last week.

Trained by Graham Motion, Hoofit (NZ) (Mossman x Chuckle) is unbeaten in America in two starts after winning his first race over 1100 metres in early September. Last week's US$250,000 Grade 3 Keeneland Phoenix Stakes (1200m) saw the four-year-old maintain that record after a staunch battle with Edgar Prado in the saddle, beating Aikenite (Yes It's True) by a head at the line.

The Grade 3 Keeneland Phoenix Stakes is part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series, and with Hoofit securing the race victory, he now automatically qualifies for the US$2 million Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Sprint.

Should connections decide to aim Hoofit at the race, he will be competing in the world famous Breeders' Cup World Championships.

New Zealand Bloodstock could see multiple runners in the 2011 Breeders' Cup World Championships this year (November 4 & 5) with the champion So You Think (NZ) (High Chaparral) holding a nomination for the Breeders' Cup Classic on dirt.

Karaka graduates have ventured to the famous meeting before with the globetrotter Starcraft (Soviet Star) competing in the Breeders' Cup in 2005 after his Group 1 wins in France and England.

Previously trained by Steven McKee, Hoofit took the Listed Bonecrusher Stakes among his two victories during his career in New Zealand, and was second in the Listed Champagne Stakes to VRC Derby winner Lion Tamer as a two-year-old.

Bred by RA & JE Ferguson Partnership Syndicate, Hoofit was purchased by Beamish Bloodstock from Shelby Park at the 2009 Karaka Premier Sale for $60,000. He has now won over NZ$240,000.