Sagunto (NZ) Stars in Second Manawatu Cup

Karaka graduates finished first, second and third in Saturday’s $120,000 Group Three Humphries Construction Manawatu Cup (2300m) at Trentham, headed by defending champion Sagunto (NZ) (O’Reilly), who also has a half-sister catalogued for Karaka 2024.

The back-to-back Manawatu Cup victories headline a 65-start, nine-win career for Sagunto, who has earned $369,046 in stakes. Owners Peter and Kim McKay paid $120,000 to buy him from the draft of breeders Waikato Stud at the 2017 Premier Sale at Karaka.

Peter McKay trains Sagunto in partnership with son Shaun, and the Matamata pair have unlocked the gelding’s potential with the use of bold front-running tactics. Sagunto led all the way for his first Manawatu Cup victory 12 months ago, and his title defence on Saturday produced an even more remarkable performance.

Rider Lisa Allpress landed in front early in the race, then let Sagunto roll even further forward as he rounded the turn into the back straight. His lead rapidly grew to half a dozen and then a dozen lengths, and he was still full of running when he turned for home.

Sagunto never slowed down, and the margin was too big for the chasers to pull back. Sagunto powered to a six-length victory over Fierce Flight (Flying Artie) and Never Look Back (NZ) (Shocking).

“That was very cool,” Allpress said. “I had Peter in the back of my mind, saying, ‘Whatever you do, don’t look back. Just trust that you can judge the speed.’

“He’s such a neat horse and had no weight today – 55 is a seriously light weight for a horse like him, who’s been carrying 60 kilos in his previous races. Dropping down today, he felt like a different horse. He was so bouncy out in front and just pinging off that track.

“I was counting my furlongs, thinking that even though we were going quick, he felt so good and I thought I still had plenty there. He wasn’t overly pulling. He was just nicely on the bit. I didn’t want to look back, but I couldn’t hear anyone.

“He loves to roll along and get his own way, and he’s just such a neat horse.”

Shaun McKay was enormously satisfied to secure a second consecutive Manawatu Cup win.

“That was a dominant performance,” he said. “He had five or six on them at the corner and just kept going. It was great to watch. People sometimes ask why we ride him like that, but that’s the way he likes to go. The faster he goes, the more he keeps going.

“He’s won nine races now and gone back-to-back in this race, so he’s been a great horse for us. He’s definitely the stable pet.

“It’s a big thrill to defend the title. He was carrying only a couple of kilos more this time around, but up against some good horses. He keeps getting better and better.”

Seaton Park will offer Sagunto’s half-sister by Per Incanto as Lot 338 in Book 1 of Karaka 2024.

The Manawatu Cup runner-up Fierce Flight was bought by David Ellis for $45,000 from the 2020 Ready to Run Sale. He has earned $185,805 from a 23-start career that has produced six wins and four placings.

 

Vendor	Waikato Stud Ltd
Purchaser	Mr PN & Mrs K McKay (Matamata)
Breeding	O’Reilly – Queen Sabeel
Sale	Lot 362, 2017 Premier Sale, $120,000
Bred by	Waikato Stud Ltd