NZ's Hand in Queensland Carnival Strengthens

New Zealand horses put on a promising display at Doomben on Saturday, laying down solid foundations for the feature races of the Queensland Racing Carnival.

Laying down her challenge last weekend, winning the A$300,000 Group 1 Brisbane Cup (1200m), New Zealand mare Gee I Jane looks to be joined in the Group 1 A$1,000,000 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) on June 10th  by Cog Hill and La Sizeranne after their sizzling weekend performances.

Michael Rodd steered New Zealand Bloodstock graduate Cog Hill (Star Way x Regal Flight) to an impressive win in the Group 3 WFA Ealee Products Lord Mayor's Cup (1615m). The ease of his one length win prompted Rodd to comment that he felt he could go round again.

Bred by Roy Wallace, trainer Richard Collett purchased Cog Hill at the 2002 Karaka Select Colts Sale for NZ$24,000.

Roger James's duo of fillies proved promising. Also ridden by Rodd, La Sizeranne (Stravinsky x Tricia Ann) finished well for an unlucky second in the A$100,000 Listed Glenlogan Park Stakes (1350m). A change of tactics could see her start in the Stradbroke rather than the original plan of a tilt against fillies and mares in the Group 2 $400,000 Winter Stakes (1500m) later in June.

Two races later, stable-mate Gaze (Cape Cross x Eye Full) went one better to win the A$150,000 Group 3 www.hawkinsbloodstock.com Doomben Roses (2020m) under Darren Beadman. Bred and owned by Mrs Melba Murfitt and her late husband, Gaze is currently headed for the A$325,000 Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2400m) on June 3rd.

Hong Kong

Five New Zealand Bloodstock graduates emerged victorious at Sha Tin on Sunday, headed by Regency Horse (Stravinsky x Rivertaine) taking the feature, The HSBC Premier Sha Tin Vase (1200m). Tony Cruz's training prowess was highlighted with his horses filling the first three placings in the race.

Regency Horse defeating stable-mates Helene Pillaging and Fokine in  the HSBC Premier Sha Tin Vase Photo: HKJC

Regency Horse has now had fifteen starts in Hong Kong for six wins and five placings. 

Ray Coupland paid NZ$60,000 at the 2003 Karaka Premier Yearling Sale for the Little Avondale Stud bred son of the hot NZ based sire, Stravinsky.

Four other wins by Karaka graduates came in the following races:

Race 2 - Magic Temple (Slavic x Olga Palosky), Cenamira (Centaine x Adnamira) and Fast Track (Faltaat x Question Mark) joined forces to produce the first of two New Zealand bred trifecta in the Class 4 Tate's Cairn Handicap over 1650 metres.  

Art Muller Enterprises purchased two-time winner, Magic Temple, at the 2001 Karaka National Weanling Sale for NZ$18,000 from Cambridge Stud, while Cenamira was bought by NZB as agent at the 2002 Karaka Premier Yearling Sale for NZ$60,000 from Martindale Stud.

Race 3 - Grand Commands (Commands x Kristofle), a $NZ110,000 purchase by Hong Kong based Magus Equine at the 2001 Karaka Ready to Run Sale, took out the Class 4 Sha Tin Heights Handicap over 1200 metres. Sold by Anzac Lodge, the win was the four-year-old gelding's fifth for trainer Peter Ng.

Race 4 - Fat Dragon (O'Reilly x Our Big Bird), Pay Day (Kashani x Regal Rita) and Brave Commander (Gold Brose x Audrey Rose) produced the second NZ bred trifecta in the Class 5 To Fung Shan Handicap (1400m). 

Bred by John Worley, Fat Dragon was purchased by Stuart Hale at the 2002 Karaka Select Colts Sale for NZ$100,000 from Little Avondale Stud's draft. Michael Stedman bought Brave Commander at the 2001 Karaka Select Colts Sale for NZ$60,000 from Westbury Stud.

Race 7 - On a soft turf track, Liberal's Choice (Danewin x Another Choice) had a big four length win in the Class 2 Amah Rock Handicap (1800m) for John Size and jockey, Olivier Doleuze.

A graduate of the 2001 Karaka Ready to Run Sale, he was purchased by ex-pat New Zealand trainer in Singapore, Bruce Marsh, from Phoenix Park's draft for NZ$62,500.