Major Pedigree Updates at Karaka 2012

Christmas and New Year racing has provided an abundance of major pedigree updates for New Zealand Bloodstock's National Yearling Sales Series commencing in just over three weeks' time.

Leading the charge for the pedigree updates is Highbury Park's Ekraar filly at Lot 947, the full sister to the Group 1 Zabeel Classic (2000m) winner Shez Sinsational (NZ) (ex Original Sin).

Well-supported in the market coming into the Boxing Day Group 1 feature, Shez Sinsational had run second to Lady Kipling (Savabeel) in the Group 2 Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m) at her previous start and was primed for the 2000 metre trip.

Trained by Allan Sharrock, Shez Sinsational had already showed that she was a top class horse with two Group 1 placings to her credit: a second to Scarlett Lady (Savabeel) in the Group 1 Queensland Oaks and then third at her next start behind Shootoff (Duelled) in the Group 1 Queensland Derby last season.

Planet Rock has a half-brother in the Karaka Premier Sale by Alamosa

The four-year-old's Boxing Day Group 1 victory with James McDonald aboard saw her beat Group 1 winner Veyron by one-and-a-half lengths.

The pedigree updates continue to flow for Wellfield Lodge's Alamosa colt at Lot 37, the half-brother to star three-year-old filly Planet Rock (Fastnet Rock). A winner of the Group 1 New Zealand Bloodstock 1000 Guineas for her trainers Peter and Dawn Williams since the catalogue went to print, she has added to her impressive record - and her lead in New Zealand Bloodstock's Filly of the Year Series - when taking the Group 2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m) on Boxing Day.

On New Year's Day at Ellerslie, the winner of the Group 2 Championship Stakes (2100m), Silent Achiever (NZ) (O'Reilly x Winning Spree), has a half-brother in the Karaka Select Sale by first season sire Sakhee's Secret at Lot 535.

Looking like a three-year-old with a bright future, the filly had just three starts going into the Group 2 event for trainer Roger James. Coming from the back of the field, she displayed a strong turn of foot and maintained her finishing burst down the length of the Ellerslie straight to win by three-quarters of a length. The performance from the daughter of O'Reilly has seen her become the dominant favourite for the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks in March.

One of two Graham Richardson trained winners on New Year's Day at Ellerslie, Single Minded (NZ) (Bachelor Duke x Capacity), claimed the Group 2 City of Auckland Cup (2400m). Like Silent Achiever and Planet Rock, Single Minded is from a Zabeel mare and is racing in top form this season.

A winner of four of his nine starts, the four-year-old has only been beaten once this preparation when running third in the Dunstan Feeds Championship (2400m) in early December. The Group 2 City of Auckland Cup saw the tough stayer lead for most of the running and in a determined display, held his rivals in the Ellerslie straight to win his black-type debut by a length.

Single Minded was bred by Karreman Bloodstock and is raced by The Oaks Stud. The stud will offer a full brother to the Group 2 winner at the Select Sale at Lot 618.

Two-year-old races around New Zealand are being hotly contested with a number of Karaka Million nominated two-year-olds competing for a start in New Zealand's richest race - the $1 million Karaka Million (Res.L) - where entry is determined by stakes earnings.

With a $70,000 stake, the Group 3 Eclipse Stakes (1200m) gives a Karaka Million nominated winner a huge boost to the coffers and a coveted spot at the top of the Order of Entry for the $1 million race.

An outstanding broodmare sire, Zabeel is the dam sire of Planet Rock, Silent Achiever and Single Minded

The Jason Bridgman trained Warhorse (NZ) (General Nediym x Rathlin Island) did exactly that on New Year's Day when putting in an eye-catching run, taking him to second place on the Karaka Million Order of Entry with $44,000 in stakes.

Cambridge Stud will be offering a half-sister to Warhorse by New Zealand's champion sire Zabeel at the Premier Sale at Lot 393.

In Hong Kong, the six-year-old Aashiq (NZ) (Viking Ruler x Join The Fun) notched up his first black-type victory when winning the HK-3 Chinese Challenge Cup (1400m) on New Year's Day at Sha Tin. Trained by Paul O'Sullivan, the sprinter has taken four wins on the Hong Kong circuit and beat a strong field in the HK-3 race including the likes of Group 1 Hong Kong Mile winner Beauty Flash (Golan).

Albizia Lodge will be offering a three-quarter brother by Keeper to Aashiq at the Select Sale at Lot 807.

Pre-Christmas racing also provided a number of pedigree updates since the catalogues went to print, including:

• Zurella (NZ) (Zabeel x Doneze Girl) winning the Group 3 Eulogy Stakes. She has a half-sister in the Premier Sale by Sakhee's Secret at Lot 171 from The Oaks Stud.
• Lady Kipling (NZ) (Savabeel), who won the Group 2 Cal Isuzu Stakes in early December has a half-sister by High Chaparral at Lot 36 from Windsor Park Stud.
• Two-year-old Discreet (Show a Heart), who won the Listed Gal Stakes at Eagle Farm in mid-December at just his second start, has a full brother at Lot 841 in the Select Sale from Bradbury Park.

Click the links for a full list of pedigree updates for the Premier Sale, Select Sale and Festival Sale.

New Zealand Bloodstock's National Yearling Sales Series will be held at the Karaka sales complex from 30 January to 5 February. For news and information about the Sales Series contact reception@nzb.co.nz or visit www.nzb.co.nz.