KARAKA 2005: Summer Boost to Karaka Pedigrees

Some exciting young performers have displayed their talents over the recent weeks, adding a timely boost to some of the yearling pedigrees on offer at Karaka from 31st January.

This weekend saw Cambridge Stud sire, Zabeel, notch up his 83rd stakes winner with a win by five year old mare, Etoile Du Nord. The mare's win in Saturday's Listed $50,000 Gallagher Group Marton Cup (2200m) at Awapuni has put her on track for the Group 1 Wellington Cup at Trentham on 29th January. Etoile Du Nord has a half brother out of You Remember Me (Topsider) at Lot 238 of the Premier Sale, by first season sire, Black Minnaloushe. Windsor Park Stud sire, Black Minnaloushe, a dual Group 1 winning son of Storm Cat, is represented by 60 yearlings at Karaka including yearlings from quality mares such as Alacrity, Nimue, Satirical, Taciturn and Tristachine.

Race 9 at Ellerslie saw Santoya (College Chapel x Cake) take the Majestic Horse Floats Ltd 1400 by a neck to River Chief (O'Reilly x Head of the River). Esker Lodge are offering half to Santoya at Lot 308 of the Premier Sale, a colt by Highview Stud sire, Align. River Chief has a full brother in Waikato Stud's Premier draft at Lot 446.

Ellerslie's Christmas Carnival saw a number of good performers boasting the merits of their Sale relatives.

The highlight of Boxing Day was a sensational performance by Xcellent (Pentire x Excelo) in the $500,000 Mercedes Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie. The unbeaten three year old stormed home in style to win the Group 1 feature at only his third start. A graduate of the Premier Sale himself, Xcellent has a half brother at Lot 393 in the Premier Sale, by Waikato Stud sire, Pins. Pins has had recent success from his first crop with Group 1 Caulfield Guineas winner, Econsul, and is represented by 49 yearlings at Karaka.

Second placegetter in the Derby was Mandela (Ebony Grosve x Wairongoa Belle), a bargain purchase for $1750 from the 2003 Festival Sale at Karaka. Select Sale graduate, King Johny (Seasoned Star x Lal's Gift), finished a short head from Mandela for third. King Johny has a half brother at Lot 1009 of the Select Sale, by first season sire standing at White Robe Lodge, Danzighill.

On the same day, the Queen Elizabeth Handicap saw New Zealand Bloodstock graduates trifecta the Group 2 event. The winner was the Murray Baker-trained Mistrale (Volksraad x Sugarbird), a $21,000 Premier Sale graduate from the draft of Grande Vue Lodge. Garrard (Kaapstad x Regal Times), in second place, is a $37,000 graduate of the 2001 Select Sale. Garrard has a half sister by Shinko King at Lot 1143 in the Festival Sale. Waitoki Dream (Pentire x Calm Lover) completed the trifecta, and added interest to his full brother at Lot 310 of the Premier Sale.

New Year's Day saw Rich Hill sire, Pentire, take the second of his Carnival feature wins when the Gerald Ryan-trained five year old mare, Recurring (Pentire x Donna's Habit), won the Group 1 Waiwera Infinity Railway Handicap (1200m). Recurring, a $40,000 purchase from the 2001 Premier Sale, won by a half length to Gee I Jane (Jahafil) and Festival sale graduate, Sedecrem (Faltaat). His sire, Pentire, is represented by 35 yearlings at Karaka.

The star of the last day of the Carnival was winner of the Group 1 Zabeel Classic (2000m), St Reims (Zabeel x L'Quiz), who recorded a game win from Distinctly Secret in second and Lashed in third place. St Reims, bred by Cambridge Stud, was a $1 million purchase from the 2001 Premier sale by leading New Zealand bloodstock agent, Rob McAnulty. Lot 320 by first southern crop sire, Giant's Causeway, is a colt out of dual Group 1 winning mare Champagne, a full sister to St Reims.

St Reims was Zabeel's second Group 1 winner of the Carnival, with Bazelle (Zabeel x Show Games) taking the Group 1 Auckland Cup (3200m) on New Year's Day. Bazelle's half sister, Arena Pride (Nassipour x Show Games) is offering a colt by leading first season sire last season, Stravinsky, at Lot 266.

Zabeel, who is currently leading the Australian sires tables, is represented by 37 yearlings at Karaka. These include Lot 13, a colt from the regally bred mare, Marquise; Lot 363, a well bred filly out of Diamond Lover; and one of the last Premier lots at Lot 519, a colt out of Lolette from the draft of Whakanui Stud.

Other Lots related to Ellerslie Carnival performers include:

Lot 106 Show a Heart x Red Century (Centaine): This colt from Rodmor Stud is a half brother to Blue Tsunami, winner of the Speights 1400 PQ on the last day of the Ellerslie Carnival.

Lot 204 Keeper x Tricia Ann (Zabeel): Currently second on the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year points table, La Sizeranne, who ran third in the Gr.2 Cambridge Stud Eight Carat Classic on Boxing Day, has a half sister in the Premier Sale by first season sire, Keeper. (Please note that this filly is incorrectly catalogued in the published catalogue.  The correct pedigree can be seen on the website, or obtained from New Zealand Bloodstock.)

Lot 444 Spectatorial x Gypsy Invader (Brilliant Invader): Winner at Ellerslie in the Lindauer Special Reserve Blanc de Blanc 1600m Mdn, Matador has a half brother being offered by Hallmark Stud.

With twenty Danehill yearlings in the Premier Sale, recent performances both here and across the Tasman continue to advertise the merits of the super-sire. At home, Danehill entire Danbird (ex Fitting by Marscay) won the Listed Newmarket Handicap over 1200m on an easy track.

In Australia, two-year-old colt Power of Destiny (Danehill x Jeanetta Cochrane by Sadler's Wells) won over 1200m by an impressive 5� lengths. Power of Destiny's full sister will be offered by Rodmor Stud in Lot 475 at the Premier Sale. Lot 475 is also a full sister to Listed performer, Dane Shakira.

Further afield in Hong Kong, a full brother to Lot 192 is winning three-year-old colt, Ample Gains (Danehill x Tamarino by Caerleon), who took the HK$570,000 Castle Peak Handicap (1400m) by two lengths in a time of 1.23.2. Pencarrow Stud will offer Lot 192 for sale in the Premier session.

The full list of sires represented at Karaka 2005's Premier Sale includes Align, Anabaa, Bertolini, Black Minnaloushe, Canny Lad, Cape Cross, Carnegie, Catbird, Centaine, Chief Bearhart, City on a Hill, Cullen, Danasinga, Danehill, Danehill Dancer, Danewin, Danske, Danzero, Dehere, Deputy Governor, Desert Prince, Elnadim, Encosta de Lago, Faltaat, Fantastic Light, Fasliyev, Flying Spur, Fuji Kiseki, Fusaichi Pegasus, Galileo, Generous, Grand Lodge, High Yield, Kaapstad, Keeper, Lion Hunter, Marauding, Minardi, Montjeu, More Than Ready, Octagonal, O'Reilly, Peintre Celebre, Pentire, Pins, Red Ransom, Redoute's Choice, Royal Academy, Secret Savings, Show A Heart, Spectatorial, Spinning World, St Petersburg, Strategic, Stravinsky, Testa Rossa, Traditionally, Viscount, Volksraad and Zabeel.

New Zealand Bloodstock's National Yearling Sales start at 11am each day. The Premier Sale will be conducted from 31st January to 2nd February, the Select Sale is 3rd & 4th February and the Festival Sale is 6th & 7th February. Pedigrees of all entries can be found on New Zealand Bloodstock's website at http://www.nzb.co.nz/, or catalogues can be requested from New Zealand Bloodstock (Ph: (09) 2980055 or reception@nzb.co.nz).