Still The One To Watch

Last year's Premier Sale graduate, The One, (O'Reilly x The Grin) confirmed he is still firmly in Derby contention by taking out the Group 3 Danehill Stakes (1200m) by a nose at Flemington on Saturday.

The One showed plenty of promise last season when second in the Group 1 Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes as a two-year-old before transferring to Mike Moroney's Flemington stable. Bred by the Dennis brothers from the famous South Island 'The' family, The One was bought by Paul Moroney for NZ$185,000 from Rodmor Stud. A half brother to The Jewel and the third Group winner from The Grin, The One has a full brother entered at the Premier Yearling Sale at Karaka in January.

Primus (Flying Spur x Copa De Oro) showed he is still on the rise scoring a win at Group 3 level in the Tramway Quality Handicap over 1400m at Randwick on Saturday. Bred by Alan Galbraith, the Karaka Premier Sale graduate was knocked down to John O'Shea for NZ$120,000 from Rich Hill Stud.

Meanwhile, Richard Moore's well known family produced yet another winner on Saturday when Temple Hills (Marju x Soltanto) won the Penny Edition Stakes (Listed) over 1450m at Cheltenham. Bought by Barry Lee for NZ$110,000 from Karaka Downs, he has amassed five wins from thirteen starts. Formerly trained by Lance O'Sullivan at Matamata, the five-year-old gelding is now in the stable of Peter Moody. Soltanto will be represented at Karaka in January, when a colt by Volksraad, out of her daughter, Tantamount, goes under the hammer.

Other New Zealand breds to perform well over the weekend at Stakes level in Australia include second placegetters Sphenophyta (Entrepreneur x Ballermoss), Rev em up (Entrepreneur x Wildn'sensuous) and Be Delicious (Danasinga x O'Really).

All three have close relations entered in next year's National Yearling Sale at Karaka. Sphenophyta's half brother by King of Kings, a Spartacus filly out of Wildn'sensuous and the half brother to Be Delicious, by Pins, are all likely to attract attention from both sides of the Tasman.