Kindacross Claims Weekend Feature

Manawatu's weekend racing was packed with stakes races and featured a class field of two-year-olds for the Group 1 Ford Manawatu Sires' Produce (1400m).

Kindacross (Cape Cross x Kindness) took out the main event, cruising to victory ahead of Wahid (Almutawakel x Rory's Helen) and Howmuchyacharging (Howbaddouwantit x Fairdale Lass). The win reinforced his challenge for the two-year-old of the year title while giving him the top spot as the highest rated two-year-old in New Zealand with a rating of 94.

All three horses were sold through the New Zealand Bloodstock sale ring during last year's National Yearling Sale Series. In the Premier session, Kindacross was offered by Cambridge Stud and sold for $62,500 to David Ellis of Te Akau Racing Stables. Trelawney Stud's select session draft offered Wahid who was sold for $50,000 to trainer Alan Sharrock and Howmuchyacharging was sold by Fairdale Stud for $26,000.

Earlier in the day, the Group 2 Lawnmaster Awapuni Gold Cup (2000m) was won by seasoned campaigner Distinctly Secret (Distinctly North x Te Akau Secret), also a resident of Te Akau's stables.  Showgirl (Volksraad x Show Belle) was second ahead of Penitentiary (Pentire x Strange Ways) for third. Showgirl was offered by Fayette Park Stud at the 2001 Select Fillies Sale and sold for $56,000 to Peter Walker. She has a weanling in the forthcoming National Weanling, Broodmare & Mixed Bloodstock Sale by Postponed in the Fayette Park Unreserved Weanling Dispersal at Lot 223. Penitenitary was purchased by Paul Willetts for $10,000 from Haunui Farm's draft at the 2002 Select Festival Sale.

The Oaks Stud Manawatu Classic (2000m), a Group 3 race, saw $42,000 Select Sale graduate King Johny (Seasoned Star x Lal's Gift) cross the line 1 � lengths ahead of The Raj (Grosvenor x Kowtow) and Marno (Germano x Sunlit). The Raj was purchased at the same sale in 2003 by Peter Williams for $34,000.

In the South Island, the Canterbury Jockey Club meeting featured the Group 3 Christchurch Casino Easter Cup Handicap (1600m). The race was taken out by Sand Sweeper (Sandtrap x Calm As) who was sold as a weanling at the 2001 National Weanling & Broodmare Sale. Millfield Stud sold the horse for $12,000 to Citrus Bloodstock. The Jewel (O'Reilly x The Grin) ran second giving the Mosgeil-based Anderton-stable the quinella.

New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance continued their reinvigorated sponsorship drive with the New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance Maiden (2100m) at Auckland Racing Club's meeting. Held at Te Rapa, the race saw Norfolk Prince (His Royal Highness x Pacific Air), Pentempo (Pentire x Eulogize) and Tusrullah (Tuscany Flyer x Wayward Partner) cross the line in that order.

In Hong Kong, New Zealand-bred horses continued their terrific recent form. The first race on the card saw a New Zealand Bloodstock graduate quinella.

Two year old gelding, Lucky Stravinsky (Stravinsky x Sneetch), ridden by ex-pat Kiwi Shane Dye, won the 1000m Duddell Plate ahead of the Paul O'Sullivan trained, Can Opener (King's Best x Georgiana). Both horses were purchased at the 2004 National Yearling Sale by the Hong Kong Jockey Club. Lucky Stravinsky sold for $300,000 from the Trelawney Stud draft and Can Opener came from Pencarrow Stud selling for $360,000. Can Opener was resold by the Hong Kong Jockey Club for HK$6million at the Hong Kong International Sale late last year. The price was a record for the well-respected sale.

Race three on the card, the Leira Handicap over 1200m saw another Kiwi quinella when Hip Hip Hooray (Tale of the Cat x Triassic) won by three lengths over Doucai (Woodborough xRegal Flirt). Hip Hip Hooray was bought from the Haunui Farm draft at the 2002 Premier Sale for $140,000. His dam, Triassic, is entered at Lot 231 in the Westbury Stud Unreserved Mixed Bloodstock Sale taking place at Karaka on 6 May.

The National Weanling, Broodmare and Mixed Bloodstock Sale received a boost at the weekend with seven winning graduates. In addition to Sand Sweeper, were winners in Malaysia, Stop Listening (Spectacular Love) and Imperial Decree (Shinko King), plus Armagh (Bigstone) winner of the CJC Systemtech Communications H. (1200m), Hazard (Sandtrap) winner of the Southland Tram & Rail Bar H. (1600m),   Udidwhat (Hunza Court) winner of the Southland Elmwood Catering Hurdle (2600m) and Empire Jane (Frenchpark) winner of the Southland Waxy O'Shea's Irish Pub H. (1360m).