Ucalledit (NZ) Stars in Civic Stakes

Karaka graduate Ucalledit (NZ) (Zacinto) landed his second stakes win in Australia with an impressive performance in Saturday’s A$160,000 Listed Drinkwise Civic Stakes (1400m) at Randwick.

Bought for just $15,000 from Book 3 of Karaka 2019, Ucalledit has now earned A$439,110 from a 24-start career that has produced nine wins and six placings.

The gelding began his career in New Zealand, winning four of his 12 starts in the care of respected trainer Kevin Myers. He was later bought by Australian Bloodstock and transferred into the Newcastle stable of Kris Lees.

Ucalledit enjoyed an outstanding spring in Queensland earlier this season, recording four wins and a second from five starts between October 15 and December 17. That sequence culminated in his first black-type success, capturing the Listed Lough Neagh Stakes (1400m) at Eagle Farm. The five-year-old lined up in the A$300,000 The Buffering (1350m) at Doomben two weeks later, finishing a close third.

But it was a different story when Ucalledit returned to the Sunshine State last month for a Queensland Winter Carnival campaign. He was plagued by bad luck and finished outside the placings in the Listed Australian Turf Club Trophy (1200m) and the Group Three BRC Sprint (1350m).

Lees decided to take him back to New South Wales, and Saturday’s black-type feature at Randwick brought Ucalledit right back to the peak of his powers.

Ridden by Danny Beasley, Ucalledit took up a handy position in fifth before finishing over the top of King Of Hastings (Ilovethiscity) to score by half a length.

“That was a very satisfying win,” Lees said. “He had a really good spring and summer in Queensland, but since he came back he’s been a bit luckless all preparation – albeit probably in a stronger grade in Queensland.

“We brought him back to New South Wales the other day, and his first run back here was better than it looked. With a soft gate today, he was given a lovely ride by Danny, stalking the speed, and he let down really well in the straight.

“It was not a huge surprise to me that he improved today. He was going better than his form guide reads, and he just needed a few things to go right.

“He rushed through his grades last preparation, with his rating getting up quite quickly. Now he’s got to be able to maintain that type of form, and he’s found it today.

“He’s done a great job. He was a really good purchase by the boys, who bought him out of the South Island in New Zealand. He’s really put some nice wins together.

“We could look at the Ramornie Handicap (Listed, 1200m) next, but I’m also thinking about stretching him out to a mile for the South Grafton Cup (1600m). That race is a qualifier for the A$2m The Big Dance (1600m), so it looks like a nice option for Ucalledit.”

Vendor	Grangewilliam Stud
Purchaser	Mr KT Myers (Manawatu)
Breeding	Zacinto – Special Bay
Sale	Lot 1190, Karaka 2019 Book 3, $15,000
Bred by	W A Lawton