Successful Day At Avondale For New Zealand Bloodstock

New Zealand Bloodstock had a big presence at the Avondale Jockey Club meeting yesterday. Not only sponsoring the main race of the day, the New Zealand Bloodstock Avondale Gold Cup, but also providing a $50,000 Mercedes Super Bonus to the winner of the 2YO race.

THE CUP
The big race of the day was the $150,000 Group 1 New Zealand Bloodstock Avondale Gold Cup which was taken out in fine style by Regal Krona (Krona x Regal Cent).

The brave 7 year old took the lead in the home straight and withstood the challenge of second place getter Deebee Belle (Bin Ajwaad x Deebee Lady) to win by three-quarters of a length. It was a deserved win for the consistent racehorse who finished a close second to Deebee Belle in the recent Group 2 Counties Cup. Perennial Group 1 place getter Ebony Honor (Honor Grades x Only Love) finished in third place.

It was a marked change in circumstance for delighted trainers Sheryl Douglas and Roger McGlade who missed Regal Krona's run in the cup last year with Roger seriously ill in hospital. McGlade, who is also a part owner, bred the gelding from the stakes winning stallion Krona, whom he also raced and trained. Regal Krona is also raced by proud owners Messrs P L Keppel and R M Norman.

Regal Krona will now be aimed at the Waikato Times Gold Cup on December 14 and may potentially contest the Lion Red Auckland Cup on New Year's Day. Roger McGlade has already tasted Auckland Cup success having trained 1984 winner Stylish Dude.

THE BIG BONUS WINNER
Earlier in the day (Race 1, 1100m), saw the running of the NZ All Goods Cosmopolitan Juvenile for 2YO Colts and Geldings. The race carried a $50,000 Mercedes Super Bonus, in which 4 of the 6 runners in the field were eligible to win. King's Chapel (King of Kings x Lower Chapel) raced away to take the win and the bonus prize for his owners the Tauranga Racing Syndicate (managed by David Ellis) & trainer Mark Walker of Matamata. Another runner eligible for the bonus prize, Ubiquitous (Tale of the Cat x Zahra) took second place, with Danboss (Danehill x Hayizah) in third position.

David Ellis purchased King's Chapel at the Premier Session of New Zealand Bloodstock's National Yearling Sales Series earlier this year for $35,000, an amount which the colt has now certainly returned to his owners. The colt was sold through the draft of Norelands Stud of Cambridge.

King's Chapel is now aimed at another Mercedes Super Bonus Series race, the $150,000 Mercedes Colts and Geldings Prelude to be run at the Manawatu Racing Club on December 21.

The Mercedes Super Bonus Series is open to enrolled graduates of New Zealand Bloodstock's National Yearling Sales Series. The highlight of the Series is the $500,000 Mercedes Classique for 2YO's.