NZB Anzac Weekend Success

Adding to Zabeel's bumper weekend with his quinella in the Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Sha Tin, was three year old Accumulate's (Zabeel x Enhancer) win in the Gr.3 VRC St Ledger (2800m) at Flemington.

Accumulate was purchased from New Zealand Bloodstock's 2003 Premier Sale by Duncan Ramage's DGR Thoroughbreds for $280,000.

Back home in NZ, the Auckland Racing Club's Saturday meeting at Te Aroha saw NZB graduates feature in the day's proceedings. First was in Race 6, the Listed Great Northern Champagne Stakes (1500m) for two-year-olds, which was won by the exciting juvenile, Crusoe (Volksraad x Caserio).

The Bob Emery owned colt, who was purchased at the 2004 Select Yearling Sale for $65,000, showed an explosive burst of speed to cross the line in front of Tsarina Belle (Stravinsky x Empress Belle) and Lapaz (City on a Hill x Three Vibes).

At the same meeting, the New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance 3YO race over 1200m saw the Rogerson & Autridge trained Ringadingding (Kashani x Classic Opera) take the win from Coup Invercargill (Danasinga x Thum's Lil Sister) in second and Rokocoko (Volksraad x Tall Poppy) in third.

In Hawkes Bay, Envoy (Personal Escort x Sovereign Command) came up with the goods to win in the Gr. 2 Gold Cup in Association with Davmet NZ Ltd (2200m). Entered in the upcoming New Zealand Bloodstock Weanling, Broodmare and Mixed Bloodstock Sale at Lot 70, is a weanling half sister to Envoy, by Drama Critic.

Etoile Du Nord (Zabeel x You Remember Me) and Lord Asterix (Bahhare x Lady Fergie) took out the minor placings. Etoile Du Nord was purchased by Michael Otto Bloodstock for $120,000 from the Premier Sale at Karaka. The broodmare session of the forthcoming National Weanling, Broodmare & Mixed Bloodstock Sale sees a half-sister to Lord Asterix being offered at Lot 436.

Earlier in the day, Race 2 was an NZB graduate trifecta, won by Sea Saint (Orpen x Top Saint) a $40,000 Premier Sale purchase by David Ellis. In second was Governor Bois (Deputy Governor x Theydon Bois) a $59,000 purchase by John Wheeler from the Select Sale, and third was Fercertain (Centaine x Lady Fergie) - the second placing of the day for his dam - bought by Lisa Latta from the Select Sale for $35,000.

In Race 3, Dead Rabbits (Slavic x Blanche Amelie), a $15,000 Festival Sale graduate, won the Li Redshaw Ltd Gold Cup Maiden (1400m). In Race 6, Lisa Latta had success with Idaho Boy (Jeune x Chauntress) over 2000m, a colt she bought from the 2002 Ready to Run Sale for $45,000. Second was three year old filly, Wine Oh (Danske x Fancy Me), an $8,000 purchase from the 2003 Ready to Run Sale.

Anzac Day racing on Monday was highlighted by the Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Two-Year-Old Fillies Stakes (1500m) at Avondale. Ridden by in-form jockey, Lisa Cropp, the Rogerson/Autridge trained filly, Vegas Showgirl (Al Akbar x Vegas Magic), was handily placed to win by 2 � lengths from Crepe De Chine (Pins x Gio) and Alma June (Almutawakel x House Warming). Crepe De Chine was sold at the 2004 Premier Yearling Sale for $90,000 to Paul O'Sullivan and is now trained by his brother, Lance. Alma June was a $1,000 purchase from the Haunui Stud Yearling draft at the 2004 Weanling, Broodmare and Mixed Bloodstock Sale.

For news and sales information visit New Zealand Bloodstock's website at www.nzb.co.nz.