Half-Sister to Breeders’ Stakes Winner in South Island Sale

Coulee (NZ) (Gallant Guru) ended an outstanding campaign with a career-best win in the $80,000 Group 3 Valachi Downs South Island Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at Riccarton on Saturday, producing a raft of pedigree updates for this month’s upcoming South Island Sale.

A yearling half-sister by Raise The Flag will be presented by White Robe Lodge at Lot 51. Also featuring in White Robe Lodge’s draft of 16 yearlings are two lots closely related to Coulee, Lot 26, a Raise The Flag colt out of Stage Flash and Lot 17, a filly by Star Witness out of Sheeza Drama.

Coulee produced an irresistible sprint down the Riccarton straight to edge out El Sagrado (Azamour) and Charmont (High Chaparral) in an exciting finish to the fillies and mares’ feature. It was the four-year-old Coulee’s sixth win from 19 career starts, her fifth victory from 10 starts this season and her third win in a row. It was her first attempt at a stakes race.

“She’s a mare who’s just kept improving,” co-trainer Shane Anderton said. “She’s only a young mare and she’s got plenty in front of her.”

Coulee is by Gallant Guru out of the Monashee Mountain mare Cherry Creek, who won eight races including the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes. Coulee is her first foal to race.

Coulee was bred and is part-owned by White Robe Lodge’s Brian and Lorraine Anderton, and Brian shares training duties with his son Shane.

White Robe Stud is also one of eight of the Sale vendors that have thrown their support behind South Canterbury Racing Club’s meeting today (7th April) at Phar Lap Raceway in Timaru.

Berkley Stud, Pear Tree Farm Agistment, Three Valleys, Willow Glen, Park Hill Stables, Inglewood Stud and Hedwood Thoroughbreds are all sponsoring races at today’s race meeting in a push to raise the profile of the Sale.

New Zealand Bloodstock’s South Island Sale will be held on Friday 15 April from 11am and has a new venue for 2016 with the sale ring now located in the Riding for the Disabled Building at the Canterbury Agricultural Park in Christchurch.

To request a catalogue for New Zealand Bloodstock’s South Island Sale, contact Faye Hunt at reception@nzb.co.nz or for news or Sale information visit www.nzb.co.nz.