Primus Sets Sights on Spring Success
28 August 2006
Karaka Premier Sale graduate Primus (Flying Spur x Copa de Oro) started his Spring preparation in fine fashion, winning Saturday's Listed Show Champion Quality (1200m) at Randwick. Bred by Alan Galbraith, the four-year-old showed tenacity to gun down Resistor (Danehill x Volte) by a short head.
Trainer John O'Shea purchased the now dual Listed winner from Rich Hill Stud at the 2004 Karaka Premier Sale for NZ$120,000.
In addition to his listed wins, Primus has recorded a host of Group race placings with Group 1 thirds in the Rosehill, Caulfield and Randwick Canterbury Guineas and a fourth in the AJC Australian Derby�at his last start. He is now headed for the Group 3 $100,000 Tramway Handicap in two weeks time before the major Spring races, which at this stage includes a nomination for the Group 1 Cox Plate.
Other New Zealand Bloodstock Sale graduates to produce creditible stakes performances over the weekend in Australia were the David Hayes trained Muzdaher (Stravinsky x Gazebo) and the Colin Little trained Bruges (Groom Dancer x Rationaine).
Bred by Laahenhook Trust, Muzdaher was a pleasing third in the Listed Nissan Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley. Shadwell Stud purchased the promising colt at the 2005 Karaka Premier Sale for NZ$410,000 from Wentwood Grange.
Breeders Trelawney Stud sold Bruges - a half to Group 1 Victoria Derby Winner Amalfi (Carnegie) - at the 2001 Karaka Premier Sale for NZ$135,000. Her third placing in the Group 3 Spring Stakes (1200m) at Morphetville adds some elusive and well earned black type to her pedigree after seven career wins.
Warcat Heads NZ Bred�Success in Macau
Continuing on from their success last weekend, New Zealand-bred racehorses won seven of the ten races on the card in Macau on Sunday. Heading these was Macau's star performer, the New Zealand bred Warcat (Felix the Cat x Tara's Joy), who won the feature race, the M$680,000 Class 1 Ard Patrick over 1000m. The equal highest rated performer in Macau, Warcat now has 16 wins from 26 career starts, with just one second placing breaking his perfect winning record over his last seven outings.
Also winners on the night in Macau were New Zealand Bloodstock graduates Special Agent (Green Perfume x Danezza), King of Master (Yachtie x Kaimoto Lass), Crowns General (Slavic x Miss Rowena), Bowling Strike (Vyner's Orb x Nita's Dream) and Halo Wins (My Halo x Crested Lass).
New Zealand-bred horses were also prominent at Kranji racecourse in Singapore on Friday night when picking up four wins in the first meeting since the Club's three week break.
Russian Gem (Stravinsky x Rose of Tralee), Lucky Sun (Almutawakel x Eidercrown), Royal Dancer (Sandtrap x Royal Eve) and Brave Heart (O'Reilly x Aspects of Love) were all winners, while Laurie Laxon's Breckenridge (Anziyan x Snowmass) had to settle for second in the feature event.