Sacred Falls (NZ) Races to G1 Doncaster Victory

Kiwi bred three-year-old colt Sacred Falls (NZ) has continued New Zealand’s outstanding run of success in Sydney’s Autumn Carnival with a scintillating victory in one of the world’s most prestigious mile races, the A$2 million Group 1 Doncaster Mile at Randwick on Saturday.

Kiwi bred three-year-olds have had a huge last few weeks in Australia with It’s a Dundeel (NZ) winning the Triple Crown, Norzita (NZ) winning the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes, Ferlax (NZ) the Group 1 Australian Guineas, Shamexpress (NZ) the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap and now Sacred Falls taking the Group 1 Doncaster Mile.

Sacred Falls (NZ) beats Pierro in the G1 Doncaster Mile

Bred, raised, sold and previously trained in New Zealand, Sacred Falls (O’Reilly x Iguazu's Girl, by Redoute’s Choice) downed some of Australia’s best horses as he came from the back of the field under jockey Tommy Berry to run down the champion colt Pierro and fellow NZ bred and Karaka graduate Norzita (Thorn Park), winning by three-quarters-of-a-length.

The Chris Waller trained son of O’Reilly had three starts in Australia leading into the Doncaster and finished second in the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas at his last start. Saturday’s result puts further emphasis around the form of the star kiwi colt It’s a Dundeel who beat Sacred Falls by almost seven lengths on that occasion.

Sacred Falls was trained by Tony Pike & Mark Donoghue during his racing career in New Zealand where he went unbeaten in six starts including the Group 1 NZ 2000 Guineas. Pike was at the track on Saturday and was thrilled with the win.

“It was a very good performance,” said Pike. “He was an exceptional performer in New Zealand and he has managed to produce that form across the Tasman.

“His preparation did not go to plan early on and he had some setbacks but we knew he was back when he finished second to It’s a Dundeel in the Rosehill Guineas.

“He will stay in Australia and head to the paddock for 4-6 weeks before being brought back for spring racing. We have always believed a mile is his best distance but he also ran well over 2000 metres in the Guineas so that gives us options.”

Raced by Raffles Thoroughbred Racing, Dato Yap Kim San and Garry Chittick of Waikato Stud, the colt has now won seven of his 10 starts, two at Group 1 level, for almost NZ$2 million in stakes.  

Raffles Thoroughbred Racing has had a highly successful season on the track on both sides of the Tasman as they also race More Than Sacred who won the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks.

Bred and offered by Waikato Stud, Sacred Falls was purchased by Guy Mulcaster’s Mulcaster  Bloodstock at New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2011 Karaka Premier Sale for $160,000.

Sacred Falls has capped off a big season for his sire O’Reilly whose other top performers for the season include Shamexpress, winner of the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap, Silent Achiever, Annie Higgins, O’Fille, Mosse, Thy and High Fashion.