Nikau Spur (NZ) Flies the Flag for Sponsors

On a Newcastle raceday with extensive NZB sponsorship, a Karaka graduate fittingly spent some time in the spotlight in Saturday's A$300,000 New Zealand Bloodstock The Beauford (2300m).

The feature staying race was won by Nikau Spur (NZ) (Proisir), who was passed in when offered with a $40,000 reserve in Book 1 of Karaka 2018. His 40-race career has produced nine wins, 14 placings and A$686,932 in stakes.

Saturday’s showpiece was the ninth win for Nikau Spur, who had previously won the Listed Queensland Cup (2400m) on October 12. Saturday’s heroics were every bit as impressive, settling in seventh before launching a resolute finish down the straight. Under the urgings of jockey Tim Clark, the eight-year-old got up in the last stride to win in a tight finish.

“I love this horse,” said Corey Geran, who trains in partnership with his mother Kylie at Toowoomba. “He is nothing short of a superstar. We travelled to Coffs Harbour on Thursday night, we worked him around Coffs Harbour track Friday morning and came down here this morning, and he can do that. He is just incredible.

“He won the Queensland Cup over 2400 metres, and there is a lack of staying races in Queensland, particularly genuinely run staying races in Queensland. You come to these places and you get that genuine pace on.

“This horse should have won last start, but there was just not much pace in the race and it got him beat, but he ran his last furlong in 11 seconds. I said to Tim Clark today that if he does that I genuinely think he can win.”

Geran also pointed out a notable black-type placing by Nikau Spur in the Listed Members’ Handicap (1600m) at Doomben in May. That race was won by the very promising Gringotts (NZ) (Per Incanto), while runner-up Knight’s Choice (Extreme Choice) went on to win the Melbourne Cup (3200m). Nikau Spur finished third.

“If you go back and look at the form from the mile race at Doomben in winter this year, Gringotts was the winner, Knight’s Choice ran second and he ran third,” Geran said.

Nikau Spur was initially trained in New Zealand by Rosie Buchanan, for whom he placed on debut. He was subsequently sold to clients of leading Australian trainer Ciaron Maher, and he won three races for that stable before joining the Gerans.

NZB sponsored half of the Newcastle card on Saturday as a promotion for the Ready to Run Sale, which will be held at Karaka on Wednesday and Thursday.