Half-sister to Blizzard at Karaka 2017

The National Yearling Sales Series at Karaka gained an important pedigree update when Blizzard (Starcraft) won Sunday’s HK$3 million Group 3 Chinese Club Challenge Cup (1400m) at Sha Tin.

A half-sister to the impressive winner will be offered during the Select Sale.

Ridden patiently by Joao Moreira, Blizzard raced at the rear of the field before moving into contention approaching the home turn. Halfway down the home straight he burst to the lead, asserting his superiority and scoring an emphatic win by a length and three-quarters.

“He’s always been a lovely horse, he’s always trying to please and that win last time gave him a boost,” trainer Ricky Yiu said.

Blizzard has now had 21 starts for eight wins, seven placings and HK$11.75 million in prize-money. He is now likely to shoot for even greater prizes.

“We’ll definitely be looking at Group 1 races but I don't know which distance – I haven’t really decided where he’ll go next, I need to sit down and talk to the syndicate,” Yiu said. “He showed last season that he’s pretty versatile, he ran all the way up to 2000 metres in the Derby and he’s shown his ability at 1400, a mile, 1800 – at this moment, I can't say for sure where I’ll put him next time. We need to sit down and think about it.”

Blizzard is one of two foals to race, both winners, out of the Redoute’s Choice mare Stormy Choice, who is a half-sister to the Group 1 winner Danestorm (Danehill).

Stormy Choice’s chestnut filly daughter by Ferlax will go through the ring during the 2017 Select Sale, offered in Haunui Farm’s draft as Lot 1062.