Half-Brother to Guns at Five at Karaka 2014

Consistent Cambridge stayer Guns at Five (NZ) (Duelled) gained another well-deserved stakes victory in the Listed $55,000 Gallagher Marton Cup (2200m) at Awapuni on Saturday adding further black-type to the pedigree page of his half-brother entered in the 2014 Karaka Select Sale.

Guns at Five (NZ) winning the Listed Gallagher Marton Cup at Awapuni on Saturday.

Bradbury Park’s Casey & Michelle Dando bred the gelding and will offer the half-brother by Perfectly Ready at Lot 918 in two weeks’ time.

Trained by Chris Wood at Cambridge, Guns at Five has been a model of consistency since winning the Listed Rotorua Plate early in this campaign, recording three placings in stakes company in the Feilding Cup, New Zealand Cup, and the Waikato Cup.

The six-year-old started as a close second favourite with punters and enjoyed an economical run from barrier 5, the son of Duelled proving too strong for the field as he drew away to win by two lengths over Smartly (NZ) (Fast ‘n’ Famous) with Figure Again hanging on for third.

“I am very happy with the way he went,” commented Wood. “On to the Wellington Cup now and possibly the Auckland Cup or the Sydney Cup, I’m not sure which way yet.

“He has had no luck at all this campaign. He got caught three wide and got too far back in the New Zealand. He also didn’t get much luck in the Feilding Cup so he was due his turn and he duly got it on Saturday.

“He misses out on a re-handicap for the Wellington Cup which is good but we will get nailed eventually.”

Saturday’s victory was the ninth in the career of Guns at Five and third stakes victory from 36 starts that included an Australian campaign with Peter Moody. He has amassed $233,701 in prizemoney for his owners Grand Lodge Thoroughbreds Pty Ltd & Ken Bee Sports (Aust) Pty Ltd.

Guns at Five is out of the Cape Cross mare Accidentlyinlove, a half-sister to Group 2 Emancipation Stakes winner Sworn to Secrecy (Keeper) and a half-sister to a further three stakes performers. Accidentlyinlove is also the dam of the multiple stakes placegetter Fantastic Honour (Any Suggestion), runner up in last season’s Karaka Million.

Mrs M C Harkema purchased Guns at Five for $12,000 at NZB’s 2008 National Weanling Sale from Blandford Lodge.