Korau Road Takes Home Final Super Bonus

The Mercedes Super Bonus Series concluded in style at Tauranga on Saturday with Korau Road securing the final bonus up for grabs in the $100,000 New Zealand Bloodstock 3YO Classique.

Following the scratching of hot favourite Spin 'N Grin (Spinning World x Smile) the Classique turned out to be a two-horse race.

Stephen & Trevor McKee were well-represented in the race with three runners. Their most promising chance, Korau Road (Cape Cross x Just Cruising), battled it out with consistent galloper Run Like The Wind (Pins x Gin Player) for a share of the $100,000 stake.

The two geldings kicked clear in the straight and fought courageously towards the line. At the finish Korau Road had managed to put a length on Run Like The Wind with another 3 ½ lengths to third place-getter, Ambrosine (Gold Brose x Tina's Dream).

Korau Road and Run Like The Wind were both purchased from the 2003 Select Colts Yearling Sale. Korau Road was sold by The Oaks Stud to Trevor McKee for $28,000, and Run Like The Wind was sold by Valentine Stables for $18,000 to Ram Reddy. Ambrosine was purchased by The Robt Dawe Agency for $25,000 from the 2003 Select Fillies Yearling Sale.

This was the last race in the successful Mercedes Super Bonus Series conducted by New Zealand Bloodstock over the past six years. In excess of NZ$6 million in bonuses has been paid out since the inception of the bonus scheme.

In the South Island, the third leg of the New Zealand Bloodstock Southern Filly of the Year Series was held at Wingatui on Sunday.

The $30,000 Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Airfreight Stakes (1600m) was taken out by race favourite Royal Miss (Volksraad x Bashful Lady). The filly had run second in the preceding leg of the series at Canterbury last week behind Go Fastar (Magic Of Sydney x Selene Star).

Running in to second and securing herself 3 points in the Series was Sapphire Belle (Danske x Sapphire Flight). Third, for the second time in two weeks, was Little Tee (Volksraad x Miss Tee) who ran a bold race to finish 1 ¼ lengths from the winner.

The current points in the Series are:

The final leg of the Southern Filly of the Year Series is the Listed $30,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Warstep Stakes (2000m) at Riccarton Park on 30 April.

In Hong Kong New Zealand bred horses continued their winning form picking up four races on the ten race card. Three of the races were taken out by New Zealand Bloodstock graduates.

Race two, the Class 5 Midland Charity Foundation Handicap (1400m), saw Mr Genki (Pompeii Court x Brauner Miss) win by a length for trainer Tony Cruz. The four-year-old gelding was sold at the 2002 Select Festival Yearling Sale for $21,000 by Poplar Lodge.

Race three, the Class 4 Midland Prosperity Sharing Handicap (1400m) was taken out by Lucky Money (Marju x Kappadios). The three-year-old was sold as a weanling at the 2002 National Weanling, Broodmare & Mixed Bloodstock Sale. Art-Muller Enterprises made the $50,000 purchase from Brookby Stables.

The final race of the day, the Class 2 Midlands Renowned Investors Handicap (1800m) was won by another Tony Cruz-trained New Zealand Bloodstock graduate in Wind Winner (Soviet Star x Lady Paree). The horse was sold by Haunui Farm at the 2002 Select Yearling Sale for $14,000.