Sheer Xcellence

New Zealand Bloodstock is celebrating after its graduates produced Group 1 wins on both sides of the Tasman on Saturday. A total of five individual Group 1 winners have been offered for sale by New Zealand Bloodstock at this early stage of the season.

Xcellent (Pentire x Excelo) amazed on-lookers after he recovered from a bump coming off the home bend to win New Zealand's richest race, the $1,000,000 Group 1 Kelt Capital Stakes (2040m). 2003's Kelt winner and second place-getter last year, Distinctly Secret (Distinctly North x Te Akau Secret) was second again while Waitoki Dream (Pentire x Calm Lover) was third. Xcellent's trainers have confirmed that he is now heading for the Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup with an international sojourn planned for next year.

In Australia, at the Australian Jockey Club's Super Saturday meeting, the Haunui Farm and Mr NS Robinson bred Railings (Zabeel x La Suffragette) won the AUS$600,000 Group 1 Metropolitan (2400m) in Sydney. In doing so he beat Run Rita Run (Runyon x Our Rita) and the New Zealand bred, Men At Work (Zabeel x Sound Lover) and also set a new race record. Railings success comes off the back of his Group 3 win in the AJC Colin Stephen Handicap (2400m) last weekend, where he once again relegated Run Rita Run to second. Railings was purchased by Roger James at the 2003 Karaka Premier Sale for $300,000 from the Haunui Farm draft and is now trained by John Hawkes.

Another New Zealand Bloodstock graduate to perform well at that meeting, in the Group 1 Thrifty Spring Champion Stakes (2000m), was the second placed Pendragon (Elnadim x Alacrity). Pendragon's placing came off the back of his recent win in the Group 3 Gloaming Stakes. He sold for $180,000 from Fayette Park's draft at the 2004 Karaka Premier Sale to DGR Thoroughbred Services.

In Melbourne, Greg Childs teamed up with two New Zealand Bloodstock graduates to win two consecutive races. His first was on Brave Lancer (Bahhare x Fine Talk) in The Bart Cummings Treble (2540m) while the second came shortly after on Headturner (Anabaa x Monroe Magic) in the Scalzo Food Industries Handicap (1800m). Brave Lancer sold to Michael Stedman Bloodstock at the 2002 Karaka Select Sale for $42,000. Paul Moroney selected Headturner from Whakanui Stud's draft at the 2004 Karaka Premier Sale, where he paid $125,000.

Darci Brahma (Danehill x Grand Echezeaux) showed an impressive turn of foot to win the Golan Hawke's Bay Guineas (1200m) ahead of fellow New Zealand Bloodstock Sale graduates, Dr Green (Fusaichi Pegasus x Palia) and Captain Kurt (Volksraad x O'Sequita). After bouncing off D'Lanach (Exploding Prospect x True Sensation) he recovered to win by a long head in the outstanding time of 1:19:97. All three place-getters have siblings who are to be offered for sale at the 2006 Karaka Premier Yearling Sale. Darci Brahma's half brother by Stravinsky will be part of Pencarrow Stud's draft while Dr Green has a full brother and Captain Curt a half sister by No Excuse Needed.

The New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance Premier (2040m) was won when Mr Toff (Personal Escort x Eriskay) crossed the line with � a length between him and the Zimmerman trained King Of Ashford (His Royal Highness x Zena's Wish). The Moroney trained Cut The Cake (Yamanin Vital x Icing On The Cake) rounded off the placings.

New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance is now looking forward to its up-coming sponsored races at Te Rapa on Labour day and also its recently announced Triple Crown series which will be staged at Ellerslie. This Saturday sees the second instalment in the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year series with the running of the Listed Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) at Ellerslie.