Unbeaten Sacred Falls New Guineas Favourite

Last season’s Champion New Zealand Sire O’Reilly looks to have produced another top three-year-old with Sacred Falls remaining unbeaten in Saturday’s $50,000 Listed Westbury Stud Challenge Stakes (1200m) at Ruakaka

Coming into his black-type debut after winning both of his two-year-old starts, Sacred Falls (O’Reilly x Iguazu's Girl) produced a brilliant performance for trainers Tony Pike & Mark Donoghue and is now the $7 early favourite for the Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas in November.

Settling fifth in transit five lengths off the speed, jockey Leith Innes brought Sacred Falls three wide on the turn and in the straight the three-year-old quickly put the race beyond doubt, running down race leader D’Cash Man (Mr. Nancho) and racing to a decisive one length victory.

Sacred Falls pictured as a yearling in 2011

Sacred Falls’ performance was equally impressive on the clock, running the 1200 metres on a dead surface in a quick 1 minute 9.6 seconds.

“We have always thought very highly of him,” said Tony Pike. “He’s a lovely horse, he is very laid back for a colt and he keeps stepping up in his races so we are very pleased with him.

“Our main aim is the 2000 Guineas in November and we will take him to the Hawke’s Bay Guineas for his next start. We will see how he comes through that before deciding on whether we give him another run before the Group 1.

“He relaxes well in his races so the step up in trip to the mile shouldn’t worry him at all.”

Bred and offered by Waikato Stud, Sacred Falls was purchased by Mulcaster Bloodstock from New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2011 Karaka Premier Sale for $160,000. Raced by Raffles Dancers Pty LTD, the colt has won all three of his starts. 

Sacred Falls is the 57th stakes winner for his sire O’Reilly who sired New Zealand’s Champion 3YO last season in Silent Achiever whose victories included the New Zealand Derby. O’Reilly also looks to have another highly promising son in the early stages of his career in Mosse (ex Golden Sparkle) who is unbeaten in two impressive starts.

To view the odds for New Zealand’s Group 1 2000 Guineas (1600m) in November, click here.