New Zealand Cup Caps Big Day for NZB Stayers

A few hours after South Island Sale graduate Yogi (NZ) (Raise The Flag) won the Listed Sandown Cup (3200m) in Australia, the $250,000 Group 3 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup (3200m) at Riccarton on Saturday provided an even bigger result for stayers sourced from New Zealand Bloodstock Sales.

Bizzwinkle (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle), who went through the ring in the 2015 Select Sale and Ready to Run Sale, headed a Karaka trifecta in the time-honoured two-miler.

Runner-up Duplicity (NZ) (Duporth) was a $27,500 purchase at the 2014 Select Sale, while third-placed Felaar (NZ) (Ekraar) was passed at the 2015 Festival Sale.

Bizzwinkle was having just his 19th career start, and he led throughout the 3200-metre journey. Rider Sam Spratt had him galloping smoothly all the way, and he was still travelling well approaching the home turn.

“It was a great effort,” Spratt said. “He was cruising along so comfortably. The other horse came up to us and I thought he was going to beat us, but he lifted again and ended up winning quite nicely.”

Duplicity surged forward on his outside in a potent bid for victory, but Bizzwinkle dug deep and fought him off to win by a long head.

Bizzwinkle, who cost $36,000 at the Select Sale and was passed at the Ready to Run Sale on a $60,000 reserve, has now won $234,375 – six and a half times his Select Sale purchase price.

“We’ve always had faith in him as a real stayer,” trainer Glenn Old said. “We set him for this race last March, after he placed in the St Leger (2500m). This is a great result and I’m sure there will be a few drinks flowing tonight.”

Bizzwinkle is raced by G J Craig, S W Hawkings, D and P Hughes, A E Kaminski, E Kaye, C N and Mrs P A Kemp, Kilgravin Lodge, D S Kinnear, T Lee, C T P Middleton and G E Petersen.

“This is amazing – unbelievable,” Stephen Hawkings said. “We did it! This horse is a quiet achiever. He’s a gutsy horse and he’ll just stick on.”

Duplicity has now earned $141,012, which is five times his purchase price, while Felaar has dwarfed his $10,000 price tag with $97,300 in earnings.