Karaka Trifecta in Chatham Stakes

Less than two weeks out from the 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale, a previous graduate of the Sale played the lead role in a remarkable all-Karaka trifecta in Saturday’s A$200,000 Group Three Paramount+ Chatham Stakes (1400m) at Flemington.

Age Of Chivalry (NZ) (He’s Remarkable) was bought for just $4,000 at the 2017 Festival Sale and then cost $50,000 at the Ready to Run Sale later that year. He took his career earnings past A$700,000 with Saturday’s memorable victory over fellow Karaka graduates Crosshaven (Smart Missile) and Justacanta (NZ) (Per Incanto).

Ridden by Damian Lane for trainers Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra, Age Of Chivalry was prominently placed throughout the race and kicked powerfully in the straight, maintaining a long-head margin over Crosshaven. Justacanta finished three-quarters of a length behind the first pair.

Age Of Chivalry has now had 23 starts for five wins and nine placings.

“I’ve been with him for a long time,” said Lane, who has been aboard for all but three of those 23 appearances. “I remember the big, raw baby that came into the stable, and the boys have done such a great job with him. He’s had some issues, so they’ve done a really good job.

“I had to use him a touch to get him into that handy spot today, but when he can ride that hot speed, that’s when things go well for him and he can then tough it out off that tempo.”

The Chatham Stakes was Age Of Chivalry’s first win in more than two years, but he had performed with credit in elite company in-between times – including Group One placings in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) and Toorak Handicap (1600m).

“He’s been going well, but when you place in those Group Ones, you get out-weighted and hard to place,” Zahra said. “He’s done us proud today.”

“We’ve been really patient in this preparation, and this was part of the programme – to run in this and back up in the Cranbourne Cup (A$500,000 Listed, 1600m) next Saturday.”

Runner-up Crosshaven was an $80,000 purchase from Book 1 of Karaka 2019 and has earned A$639,338 to date in a 13-start, five-win career. Third-placed Justacanta, who won last Saturday’s Group Two Linlithgow Stakes (1200m), was an $11,000 purchase from the 2014 National Weanling, Broodmare and Mixed Bloodstock Sale and has so far earned A$476,227.

The 2021 Ready to Run Sale will take place virtually at Te Rapa Racecourse on 17 and 18 November, commencing at 1pm (NZT) each day.