Group 1 Targets for Winning Pair

A New Zealand stakes double for Karaka graduates was achieved on the weekend across two meetings in the North Island with Puccini (NZ) (Encosta de Lago) and Artic Wolf (NZ) (Keeper) both victorious on Saturday.

Puccini (NZ) wins the Group 2 Auckland Eye Avondale Guineas at Ellerslie.

At Ellerslie, Puccini cemented his position as a leading Group 1 NZ Derby contender with another dominating front-running display to capture the Group 2 $100,000 Auckland Eye Avondale Guineas (2100m).

It was the colt’s third Guineas victory this season having already triumphed in the Great Northern and Waikato Guineas for trainers Peter & Jacob McKay. The training duo once again engaged the services of the Australian-based rider Michael Walker for the son of Encosta de Lago.

Walker let his mount stroll to the front in his own time and set an even pace over the staying journey. Puccini applied the pressure as the field entered the home straight and charged away to land victory by 1.1 lengths from Rising Romance (NZ) (Ekraar), who chased valiantly, with Glorious Days (NZ) (Falkirk) running on strongly to finish third.

“It was a good win, the last two runs he has done the same in similar fields and he seems to have come through the run pretty good,” commented Peter McKay.

“He goes to the Derby and presumably the distance of the Derby will be up his alley, no one knows until they try it. He doesn’t really have to be in front but Michael Walker gets along well with the horse and thinks he is a good horse.”

The half-brother to Sir Slick has won four of this 13 career starts, including three of his last four, to earn $226,925 for his owners Monovale Holdings Ltd who bred the horse. Puccini was passed in at the 2012 Karaka Premier Sale when offered by Monovale Farm.

By champion sire Encosta de Lago he is out of the Listed winner Miss Opera (Paris Opera) who is the dam of multiple Group 1 winner Sir Slick as well as other stakes performers Mr Jinky (Volksraad) and Shortblackmini (Black Minnaloushe), the dam of this season’s Group 1 Railway Stakes placegetter Little Wonder (Volksraad).

At New Plymouth, Artic Wolf was successful in the Group 3 $75,000 Phoenix Park Two-Year-Old Classic (1200m) making the trip down from his Byerley Park home.

Artic Wolf (NZ) successful in the Group 3 Phoenix Park Two-Year-Old Classic at New Plymouth.

The Leo Molloy trained gelding was still a maiden after three starts heading into the race however was an unlucky second at his last start, narrowly going down to Zuccato (NZ) (Iffraaj) at Counties.

Jumping from barrier 2, the son of Keeper started well for rider Mark Hills and found a nice trail in fourth position. As the field turned for the run home Artic Wolf was produced three-wide to chase down Duey (NZ) (Guillotine) who had hit the front. It took the entire length of the straight for Artic Wolf to get to Duey but the gelding got there in the nick of time to win by a nose, with Magic Moment (NZ) (Don Eduardo) finishing third to give Karaka graduates the trifecta.

“He has got a lot of ability and is clearly a very nice horse,” stated Molloy. “Like all my two-year-olds I tend to educate them at the races. The first two or three races of my horses can normally be disregarded and they get better as they campaign on so he should just get better and better.

“I thought he was very professional the other day, he quite clearly had that horse covered, although he made quite hard work of it he was always going to beat it. He was everything I expected him to be and I expect him to keep getting better.

“He will definitely be going to the Diamond Stakes, if he runs well in the Diamond I will probably go on to the Manawatu Sires Produce with him.”

It was the first win for Artic Wolf from four starts that has now earned $46,100 in stakes for owners K W & Mrs L M Oddy who also bred the horse. Artic Wolf was offered by Classic Horses Ltd at the 2013 Karaka Select Sale where his reserve was unable to be reached.

Artic Wolf is the first foal to race for his dam Pyrate Princess (Pyrus), a half-sister to triple Group 1 winner Keep the Peace (Keeper) and the Group 3 placegetter Whosyourmaster (Captain Rio).