The Classic New Zealand 3YO

New Zealand is renowned for producing top performing three-year-olds, with buyers flocking to Karaka to find their next ‘classic’ champion.

First Seal winning the Group 1 Flight Stakes.

New Zealand three-year-olds have won 32% of Australian 3YO Group 1 races in the past five seasons, and 44% of the 3YO Group 1 races at 2000m and beyond.

Horses like First Seal (Fastnet Rock), Lucia Valentina (NZ) (Savabeel), Platinum Witness (California Dane), Kirramosa (NZ) (Alamosa) Thunder Lady (NZ) (Mastercraftsman) and War Affair (NZ) (O’Reilly) are just a few of the three-year-old successes sourced from Karaka, in addition to the likes of Rising Romance (NZ) (Ekraar), Criterion (NZ) (Sebring) and Spalato (NZ) (Elusive City).

Lucia Valentina

Lucia Valentina is a classic example of what New Zealand breeding and racing is all about. The filly swiftly gained respect as a young promising three-year-old when winning on debut in New Zealand with trainer Stephen Marsh. Within five starts she had performed at stakes level with one Group 3 win in the Wellington Stakes and runner-up in the Group 2 New Zealand Bloodstock Royal Stakes.

Following her New Zealand triumphs she flew across the ditch to join the stable of Australian trainer Kris Lees. Here she achieved her highest accomplishment as a three-year-old when victorious in the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes. Her final outing as a three-year-old earned her third place in the Group 1 Australian Oaks. The four-year-old mare continues her Group 1 winning streak this season in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes.

Lucia Valentina is by leading New Zealand sire Savabeel and was purchased at the Karaka Premier Sale by Bruce Perry Bloodstock for $60,000 from Blandford Lodge.

War Affair

Kiwi-bred Singapore star War Affair had an outstanding run as a three-year-old with six wins, two of which were recorded at Sgp-3 level, and a win at Sgp-1 and Sgp-2. Bred at New Zealand’s oldest stud, Trelawney Stud, he remained in New Zealand for his first two trials as a two-year-old under trainer Jason Bridgman.

War Affair made his racing debut in Singapore for Mark Walker, unfolding a steady form in stakes races as a late two-year-old. His winning successes continued into his three-year-old season where he rose up to the Singapore challenge in the Sgp-1 Singapore Guineas.

The four-year-old gelding was purchased by David Ellis of Te Akau Stud for $70,000 from Trelawney Stud at the 2012 Karaka Premier Sale.

First Seal

Owned by a group that includes prominent owners the China Horse Club & Raffles Racing, the Australian raced filly, First Seal, has displayed a stellar racing career since her debut as a three-year-old. The Karaka graduate has showed exceptional talent on the track despite only having lightly raced with just six career outings to her credit.

First Seal broke her maiden status fresh-up at the start of her three-year-old campaign, with three wins and two seconds from just five starts that season. The highlight of her career to date is her victory in the Group 1 Flight Stakes. Before this, the daughter of Fastnet Rock won the Group 2 Tea Rose Stakes.

Trained by John Thompson, First Seal was purchased by Bart Cummings for $700,000 from Curraghmore Stud at the 2013 Karaka Premier Sale.

First Seal has a full-brother at Karaka 2015 at Lot 372 from Curraghmore Stud. Sired by Champion Leading Australian Sire, Fastnet Rock, their dam is Episode by Scenic who was winner of the Group 1 South Australian Oaks.

Platinum Witness

Platinum Witness is displaying her talent as a three-year-old and is currently runner-up in the 2014-15 NZB Filly of the Year Series. The California Dane filly has produced consistent form winning two stakes races this season.

Her first black-type victory was in the Listed Armadillo Stakes, followed by a win in the second leg of the NZB Filly of the Year Series, the Group 1 New Zealand Bloodstock 1000 Guineas.

The promising filly is trained by New Zealand’s Lisa Latta and was purchased by her from the Karaka Select Sale for $55,000 from Monovale Farm.

Thunder Lady

Up-and-coming sire Mastercraftsman is starting to display some striking performances with his first crop now three-year-olds. Kiwi-bred Thunder Lady is one of his leading hopes with what looks to be a talented future ahead.

Thunder Lady began racing in New Zealand with trainer John Sargent before transferring to Sargent’s Randwick stable to begin her three-year-old campaign.

With only six starts in Australia, the Mastercraftsman filly has placed in all her races bar one. Her recent two races have shown her ability to step up to black-type competition when winning the Group 2 Wakeful Stakes followed by a second placing in the Group 1 Oaks.

Thunder Lady was purchased at the 2013 Select Sale by Waikato Bloodstock for $75,000 from Mapperley Stud.