Luvaluva (NZ) Heads Boxing Day Success

Luvaluva (NZ) Dominant in Summer Cup

Bought for just $55,000 at the 2016 Ready to Run Sale at Karaka, Luvaluva (NZ) (Mastercraftsman) took her stakes earnings past A$700,000 with an emphatic victory in the A$160,000 Group 3 Summer Cup (2000m) at Randwick on Boxing Day.

Ridden by Koby Jennings for expat New Zealand trainer John Sargent, the five-year-old mare travelled smoothly throughout the journey and powered clear in the straight to win by two and three-quarter lengths.

“I think anyone could have done the job on her today,” Jennings said. “This was her race. I felt I was the winner a long way out.

“I was swinging off her at the half-mile and I didn't have to move an inch, she just did it all on her own. She was flying.”

The win was Luvaluva’s fifth from 27 career starts. It was her fourth victory at Group level, having previously won the Group 2 Wakeful Stakes (2000m), Group 3 Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m) and Group 3 Keith F Nolan Classic (1600m).

She also returned to the country of her birth earlier this year for a third placing in the Group 1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m).

Sargent was relieved to get the quality mare back in winning form.

“It’s been a while since she last won, but she's always been against the best horses,” he said. “We produced her against the best three-year-olds and she won, but it has taken a while since.

“It's just been one of those years for her, but hopefully those things are all behind us now and she can bounce into 2020.”

Vendor	Surrey Farm
Purchaser	Mr JG Sargent
Breeding	Mastercraftsman – Wansesingyee
Sale	Lot 24, 2016 Ready to Run Sale, $55,000
Bred by	C R Grace

 

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 Odeon (NZ) Turns Luck Around in Lord Stakes

After a frustrating run of near-misses, Karaka graduate Odeon (NZ) (Zacinto) bounced back in style at Caulfield on Boxing Day.

He was bought for $77,500 at the 2015 Select Sale, and failed to meet his $120,000 reserve at the Ready to Run Sale later that year.

Saturday’s A$140,000 Listed Ladbrokes Lord Stakes (1700m) was the seventh win of his 36-start career and took his total prize-money earnings past A$700,000.

That seventh win came more than two years after his sixth, but he had finished in the top five in 16 of his 19 starts in between.

Thursday’s win was worth the wait, producing a quality performance to win by a length and a half.

"He's an honest sort of horse, but things haven't quite gone his way,” said Simon Zahra, who trains in partnership with Mathew Ellerton.

"You can see why we get frustrated when they win like that. You know they have a ton of ability when you watch them work Tuesday and Friday and gallop like they do, but they can't win a race.”

The Lord Stakes was the second stakes win for Odeon, who had previously won the Listed Melbourne Cup Day Plate (1800m) at Flemington. He has placed in another four black-type races including the Group 1 South Australian Derby (2500m).

Ellerton and Zahra returned to Karaka in 2018 to buy a Declaration of War half-brother to Odeon for $300,000.

Zacinto is represented by 11 Lots at Karaka 2020, view them here.

Vendor	Select Sale: Valachi Downs RTR: JK Farm
Purchaser	Select Sale: APS Racing
Breeding	Zacinto – Theatre Buff
Sale	Lot 743, 2015 Select Sale, $77,500Lot 94, 2015 Ready to Run Sale, Psd (Res $120,000)
Bred by	K J Hickman

 

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Stakes Success for Pretty to Sea (NZ)

Karaka graduate Pretty to Sea (NZ) (Ocean Park) collected a valuable black-type victory in the $60,000 Listed Hallmark Stud Handicap (1600m) at Ellerslie for prominent owners, breeders and industry sponsors Brendan and Jo Lindsay.

Pretty to Sea was a $150,000 purchase at the 2016 Premier Sale. She had already proven herself at stakes level prior to Boxing Day, placing in the Group 3 Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m) in Sydney.

But Thursday’s win delivered another big boost to her value for the Lindsays, who have endured a gut-wrenching run over the last few months with a family bereavement as well as the loss of three stallions from their Cambridge Stud line-up.

“If there was one horse that could win today, I wanted this for Brendan and Jo,” winning trainer Stephen Marsh said. “It’s great to see them get a couple of winners today. I’m really proud to have one win in their colours, and I hope this can cheer them up a little bit.”

Given a patient ride by Melbourne-based expat jockey Mick Dee, Pretty to Sea was near the tail of the field approaching the home turn.

But Dee angled her into the clear in the straight and she accelerated brilliantly, finishing over the top of the favourite Avantage (Fastnet Rock) to win by a short neck.

“I’d previously won on her in Australia, so it was great to have the chance to ride her again at home today for the Lindsays and Stephen (Marsh, trainer),” Dee said. “She got a little bit further back than I was expecting, but her turn of foot was unreal.”

Pretty to Sea has now had 20 starts for four wins, five placings and more than $176,000 in prize-money.

The Hallmark Stud Handicap produced a Karaka quinella. Runner-up Avantage was a $210,000 purchase from the 2017 Premier Sale for Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis. She has recorded seven wins and four placings from her 13 starts, earning in excess of $1 million in prize-money. 

Ocean Park is represented by 23 Lots at Karaka 2020. View them here. 

Vendor	Waikato Stud
Purchaser	Mr KB & Mrs NJ Agent
Breeding	Ocean Park – Pretty
Sale	Lot 20, 2016 Premier Sale, $150,000
Bred by	Waikato Stud