Karaka Grads Head Derby Favouritism
28 May 2007
Karaka graduates Empires Choice (Redoute's Choice x Rosie's Star) and Sands of Time (Sandtrap x Cold War) shot to favouritism for the Queensland Derby after their quinella in the Group 3 Rough Habit Plate (2020m). Bart Cummings engaged Damien Oliver to guide Empires Choice around Doomben on Saturday where he produced a commanding performance to record a long head victory over Sands of Time.
Cummings purchased�Empires Choice at the 2005 Karaka Premier Sale for NZ$210,000 from his breeders, Whakanui Stud. Racing in some elite company in his short career, he has now amassed over A$500,000 in prizemoney from his two wins and six placings (five of which were at stakes level) to date.� From the Star Way mare,� Rosie's Star, he�is the grand-son of 1988 Melbourne Cup winner Empire Rose. Star Way is the sire of the dams of Group 1 winners La Bella Dama, Kindacross, Carnegie Express, Kilmore Quay, Black Bean and Coco Cabana as well as outstanding sire Encosta de Lago.
The fast-finishing Sands of Time is trained by Paul Duncan and was purchased by John Sargent at the 2005 Karaka Select Sale from Java Lodge for NZ$37,500.
Both horses are now headed for the A$500,000 Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm�in two weeks time.
New Zealand Bloodstock graduates have dominated the Derby scene of late including Fiumicino (Zabeel x Latte) in the AJC Derby; Guyno (O'Reilly x River Century) winning the WA Derby; a quinella in the VRC Derby with Efficient (Zabeel x Refused the Dance) and Gorky Park (Montjeu x Steluta) and further afield, Karaka graduates Vital King (Almutawakel x Wauwinet) and Ka Lam Fortune (My Halo x Winkum) recently laying claim to the Hong Kong Derby and the Macau Derby respectively.