Hypnos (NZ) Shines in Coupland’s Bakeries Mile

Wednesday’s $230,000 Group Two Coupland’s Bakeries Mile (1600m) at Riccarton produced an impressive and timely victory by Karaka graduate Hypnos (NZ) (Reliable Man), who has a half-brother for sale at this month’s Ready to Run Sale at Karaka. 

Hypnos, who himself cost $50,000 at the 2017 Select Sale, has now had 22 starts for five wins, seven placings and $298,388 in stakes.

Following an impressive last-start victory in the Group Three Spring Sprint (1400m) at Hastings, Hypnos was sent out favourite on Wednesday against a typically competitive Coupland’s Mile field. Jockey Danielle Johnson gave the five-year-old a perfect run just behind the leaders, and then his quality turn of foot carried him to an emphatic victory by a length and a half.

“I had a nice gate to work with and knew I had the right horse underneath me,” Johnson said. “I was sweating on a run for a little bit at the top of the straight, but he fought hard and got through well.”

Hypnos has now earned almost six times his purchase price for owners Fran and Ron Dixon.

“That was brilliant,” said Robert Wellwood, who trains in partnership with Roger James. “We have been down here a week just with him and just thinking about this race, so it’s a big relief to get the job done and it’s lovely to see him win so nicely.

“We sat down at the start of the season and looked for a target for the horse and identified this race.

“To get it done is awesome. It’s probably my biggest win, and it is just super to have a plan and see it come off.

“He travelled down here well, we got the right draw (barrier four) and they ran the race at the right tempo for him just to be there in the right order. It couldn’t have worked out better.”

Hypnos is now a three-time stakes winner, having previously captured last month’s Spring Sprint as well as the Listed Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m) during his three-year-old season. He has also placed in another two black-type events including the Group One Levin Classic (1600m).

The half-brother to Hypnos in the 2020 Ready to Run Sale catalogue is Lot 30, a Redwood gelding who will be offered through the draft of Westbury Stud.