St Peters Gift Timely for NZB South Island Sale

Lightly tried NZB graduate St Peters Gift downed some seasoned opposition to win the Lisboa Challenge�(1500m) on Saturday, providing a timely update to the pedigree of his half-brother entered in New Zealand Bloodstock's South Island Sale of Two-Year-Olds.

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�St Peters Gift�streaks ahead in the Lisboa Challenge in�Macau on Saturday. Photo: Macau JC.

Trained by Joe Lau for Malaysian businessman Dato Yap Kim San, St Peters Gift (St Petersburg x Royal Pass by Kingdom Bay) met the higher rated horses at set weights, winning by almost three lengths. In the hands of Matthew Gatt they crossed the line in 1:26.9, just a fraction of a second slower than the older Class 1 gallopers over 1500 metres at Taipa.

Now with three wins and a third placing from six starts he has NZ$103, 949 to his credit.

Commenting on the three-year-old, Lau said,�"He always been a lovely horse and he is just starting to mature, the way he hit the line he looks like he will get further, and I expect he will be better next season."

St Peters Gift himself was a $30,000 purchase at the 2008 South Island Sale before being pin-hooked at the Ready to Run Sale where he was bought by New Zealand Bloodstock as agent from Anzac Lodge for $100,000.

Everd Strauss' Leafland Stud will present a My Halo half-brother to St Peters Gift at this year's South Island Sale.

With six lots entered for the Friday 6 August sale, Strauss regards Lot 5 as his standout.

"I have a good batch prepared for this year's sale and I'd say that Lot 5 is the pick of my draft. He's a bigger, stronger, more athletic version of St Peters Gift at the same stage with a lovely long stride."

With 12 starters for 12 winners in Macau, My Halo was crowned leading general sire in the 2007-08 season with his progeny including the country's Listed Derby winner Ka Lam Fortune. The Berkley Stud sire will be represented by 14 youngsters at this year's South Island Sale.

Catalogues for New Zealand Bloodstock's Winter Mixed Bloodstock Sale and South Island Sale are being posted today, contact reception@nzb.co.nz to request copies.