New Zealand Bloodstock Sales Graduates Trifecta The Group 1 Sires' Produce

Maroofity (Maroof x Howkudai) cemented his position as the best two year old in New Zealand when leading home a New Zealand Bloodstock Sales trifecta in the Group 1 $120,000 Ford Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m) at Awapuni on Saturday.

The powerfully built Maroofity was made to work hard for his win after being held up in the home straight, but like the class horse he is he was able to manoeuvre his way out and wear down the gallant pace-setter Katana (Volksraad x Tristean) to grab the lead in the shadows of the finishing post to score by a head. Quite Astute (Danske x Cape Hill) handled her first attempt in stakes company nicely to finish third, one and a quarter lengths further back.

Maroofity has finished his first season of racing with the outstanding record of five wins and a second from just seven starts, including victory in both Group 1 two year old races, the Ellerslie and Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes, the Group 2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes and the Listed Ford Welcome Stakes. Maroofity will now go out for a well deserved spell, with the Group 1 VRC Victoria Derby looming as a possible spring target.

The handsome Maroof gelding was purchased at the 2002 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Sale by David Ellis for $46,000 from the draft of Esker Lodge. He is raced by the Tauranga Racing Syndicate, which is managed by Te Akau principle David Ellis.

Maroofity's victory underscored Mark Walker and Te Akau Racing Stable's dominance of juvenile racing this season, with the stable producing an amazing 14 two year old winners, with the youngsters Maroofity and King's Chapel, the winner of the $500,000 Mercedes Super Bonus 2YO Classique, helping to lift the stable's earnings for the season to over $1 million.

Both place-getters have kept their records of never finishing out of the top three intact, with Katana gaining many admirers for her gutsy front running display and Quite Astute for her great fast finishing effort in her first attempt at a black type race.

The Mike Moroney and Andrew Scott trained Katana was purchased at the 2002 New Zealand Bloodstock Select Fillies Sale by Paul Moroney for $52,500 from the draft of Haunui Farm. The classy filly is owned by Alan and Christine Abel.

Quite Astute was purchased as a weanling at the 2001 New Zealand Bloodstock National Weanling and Broodmare Sale by Henderson Horticulture Ltd for $12,000. Like Maroofity, Quite Astute went through in the draft of Tom and Shelly Murtagh's Esker Lodge.

Quite Astute's sire, the young Windsor Park Stud stallion Danske, has made a very promising start to his stud career with Quite Astute the third stakes place-getter, after Danette and Tadan, and the first Group 1 place-getter from his first crop.

The 2003 New Zealand Bloodstock Weanling and Broodmare Sale is fast approaching with it commencing on Sunday April 11 at New Zealand Bloodstock's Karaka Sales Complex.
For further information on New Zealand Bloodstock Sales please visit the website www.nzb.co.nz or contact Taryn Bax at New Zealand Bloodstock on +64 (0)9 298 0055 or by emailing taryn@nzb.co.nz.