Stakes Success for Hold it Harvey & Vikja King

Racing at Trentham on Saturday saw graduates Vikja King and Hold it Harvey return to winning form after strong performances at the feature New Zealand meeting.

The $70,000 Group 3 Rich Hill Stud Thompson Handicap (1600m) saw Hold it Harvey (King Cugat x Daly Charm) put in a dominate performance under his big weight of 59 kilograms to trounce the small field by two-and-a-half lengths in the hands of Jamie Bullard.

The six-year-old was unlucky at his last start in the Group 1 Haunui Farm WFA Classic, blowing the start but running on well for fourth. Saturday's win is his second Group success this season after winning the Group 3 White Robe Lodge Stakes at Wingatui in early February.

Hold it Harvey was bred by Gerry Harvey, who had a fantastic weekend with home bred Aloha winning the Group 1 Coolmore Classic in Australia, and is raced by M R Shepherd. He was offered at the 2006 Ready to Run Sale by Sir James Lodge.

The time honoured $45,000 Listed Dixon & Dunlop New Zealand St Leger (2500m) saw a good performance from another top weight in Vikja King (Viking Ruler x Lithe).

The four-year-old son of Viking Ruler had been racing well coming into the event, putting in a strong bid and running second in the St Leger Trial behind Via Veneto at Otaki in late February. Trained by Gary Freeman the win was his second from 14 starts, and his performance over the 2500 metres suggests that Vikja King may have more to offer on the track over the staying distances.

Vikja King was purchased by Bidois Bloodstock from Walnut Hill Farms for $10,000 from the 2007 National Weanling Broodmare & Mixed Bloodstock Sale. The win takes his stakes earnings to over $33,000.

Catalogues for the 2011 National Weanling, Broodmare & Mixed Bloodstock Sale are available from March 31 with the Sale running from 2-4 May. Sale entries are now closed. For more information please visit  http://www.nzb.co.nz/.