Karaka Trifecta in Stutt Stakes

Graduates of New Zealand Bloodstock Sales dominated the finish of Friday’s A$200,000 Group 2 MSC Signs Stutt Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley.

The Holy One (NZ) (Tavistock), Vegas Knight (Declaration of War) and Conqueror (Fastnet Rock) were the only three Karaka graduates in the field for the three-year-old feature, and they finished first, second and third.

The Holy One was bought for $65,000 at Book 2 of Karaka 2018, then cost $160,000 at the Ready to Run Sale later that year. Vegas Knight was a $180,000 purchase at Book 1 of Karaka 2018, while Conqueror was sold for $1 million at the same Sale.

Ridden by Brett Prebble, The Holy One went straight to the lead and never looked back from there. He led all the way and scored an impressive half-length victory, with Vegas Knight narrowly beating Conqueror for second place.

The Holy One has now won three of his five starts, earning A$165,000 in stakes for a large group of owners.

Trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young now have their eyes on the A$2 million Caulfield Guineas (1600m) on October 12.

“There’s two million reasons to have a go,” Busuttin said. "I think in time he’ll be wanting more ground, and even the Guineas might be a bit short, but you’ve got to go there now after tonight’s win.

"He’s a Tavistock, and we love them, and his pedigree suggests he’ll get longer. But we didn’t want to get him to the Derby this spring, so we’ll put all our efforts into winning the Guineas."

Busuttin and Young have previously enjoyed big-race success with progeny of Tavistock secured at Karaka, having won the Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m) in 2016 with the $60,000 Premier Sale purchase Tavago (NZ).

The 2019 edition of the Ready to Run Sale will be held at Karaka on November 20 and 21.