The Promise of Spring Success
31 August 2009
New Zealand Bloodstock graduates performed with distinction across the Tasman over the weekend with many performances promising further success this spring.
Australia's first Group 1 of the season the Group 1 A$1,000,000 Golden Rose (1400m) saw Trusting (Tale of the Cat x Legible, by Zabeel) face the starter for the third consecutive week after a win at Group 2 weight-for-age level last week and an unlucky seventh in the Group 3 Run to the Rose a week prior.
Flying the flag high for Patinack Farm, Trusting faced a high quality group of three-year-olds fit for the $1,000,000 contest including Group 1 Golden Slipper winner Phelan Ready (More Than Ready), Denman (Lonhro), the winner of four consecutive races including the Group 3 Run for the Rose, Group 3 San Domenico winner Shellscrape (Dane Shadow), and Group 1 Golden Slipper placed Headway (Charge Forward).
Settled at the tail of the field Trusting rounded the home bend some twelve lengths off the pace and was pulled wide to make his run down the very outside of the field.
In contrast Denman was settled just behind the pace and quickened for home first clearly making himself the one Trusting had to catch. Trusting made up mountains of ground to go down to Denman by one and three-quarter lengths in the finish with his effort promising many more close battles for the two outstanding three-year-old colts in the season's majors.
Trusting's, a $300,000 Curraghmore Stud graduate of the 2008 Karaka Premier Sale, effort in Sydney was closely matched by Karaka graduates Zarita (third) (Pentire x Gin Player, by Defensive Play), Efficient (fifth) (Zabeel x Refused to Dance, by Defensive Play) and El Segundo (Pins x Palos Verdes, by Oak Ridge) in Melbourne's Group 2 Memsie Stakes (1400m) on Saturday.
Won by the likes of Weekend Hussler, Miss Finland, El Segundo, Makybe Diva and Sunline in the past few seasons, the Group 2 Memsie Stakes is a real pointer towards the Group 1 Cox Plate and the close following Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.
Thus, this year's running which saw strong finishes by all Karaka graduates mentioned will have pleased connections greatly, with all looking forward to an exciting Melbourne Spring Carnival.
On the back of the success of Tavistock in the Group 1 Mudgway Partsworld Stakes, fellow four-year-old son of Montjeu Emperor Bonaparte (Montjeu x Endless Joy, by Centaine) ran out the winner of the $100,000 Listed STC Premier's Cup (1800m).
It was his second win from three starts this preparation, form which will see the David Payne trained galloper aim towards the Group 1 Metropolitan Stakes on 3 October.
A $300,000 purchase from the draft of Lyndhurst Farm, Emperor Bonaparte was purchased by Dominion Bloodstock with his page showing the son of Montjeu was a from Group 1 Thorndon Mile placed Endless Joy, herself a half-sister to Bonecrusher who claimed Horse of the Year titles in both Australia and New Zealand.
On the other end of the selling spectrum $5,500 weanling Figure of Speech (Seven Figures x Ciolmerino, by Balmerino) added the $100,000 Listed D'Urban Stakes (1700m) at Caulfield to his two previous stakes victories in New Zealand, the Listed Taumarunui Gold Cup and the Listed Kiwifruit Cup.
Sold by Brighthill Farm and purchased and raced by Ross McCarrol, Figure of Speech has now won ten times and has $318,000 worth of stake money to show for his efforts. Fellow Karaka weanling graduate Sand Sweeper (Sandtrap x Calm As, by Conquistarose), the winner of fifteen including the Group 3 Canterbury Gold Cup, provided the quinella for Karaka by finishing a neck away in second.