Wahid On Track For Derby Glory

The Allan Sharrock trained, Wahid (Almutawakel x Rory's Helen) turned in a dazzling front running display in taking the Gr.2 Mercedes Championship Stakes (2100m) at Ellerslie on Saturday.

Re-united with leading hoop, Leith Innes, Wahid set a genuine tempo in front and fought tenaciously in the straight to deny the fast finishing Black Panther (Kaapstad x Toonsie), with three-year-old filly, Twinkling (Star Way x Limitless) a close up third.

Wahid, owned by Ron and Noel Stanley of Taranaki, has now completed his preparation for the Gr.1 Mercedes New Zealand Derby (2400m) on March 4th at Ellerslie.

The son of Almutawakel is likely to start as one of the favorites in the $600,000 classic, with the Roger James trained, Congrats (Istidaad x Abita Blue) also highly rated.

Wahid was purchased at the 2004 New Zealand Bloodstock Select Yearling Sales at Karaka for $50,000 by Allan Sharrock. An ultra consistent galloper, Wahid has 8 wins to his credit from 15 starts and has only finished out of the placings once.

The winner of the $500,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Classique (1200m) at two, Wahid is a Group One winning three-year-old, having been successful in the Courtesy Ford Levin Classic (1600m) in November.

Black Panther and Twinkling will also be heading to the Mercedes Derby in a fortnight. Like Wahid, Twinkling is a graduate of the 2004 Select Sale, purchased for $60,000 by Ross Ancell.

Solvini Wins Ford 2YO Classic

First season sire, Bertolini was represented by another stakes winner, when two year old filly, Solvini (Bertolini x Paris Sky) blitzed her rivals at New Plymouth on Saturday, when taking out the Gr.3 Ford 2YO Classic (1200m).

Ridden by Matthew Williamson for Stephen and Trevor McKee, Solvini won by nearly five lengths from the previously unbeaten, Master Hunter (O'Reilly x She Wishes), who was trapped wide early, with Shortblackmini (Black Minnaloushe x Miss Opera) in third.

Solvini was purchased for $20,000 at the 2005 Select Yearling Sale from the draft of Soliloquy Lodge.

Coup Bloomsbury Wins White Robe Lodge Handicap

Four-year old gelding Coup Bloomsbury (Centaine x Winds Of Conquest) recorded a narrow victory in the Gr. 3 White Robe Lodge Handicap (1600m) at Wingatui. On Saturday.

Coup Bloomsbury , ridden by Elin Whittle for trainer Michael Pitman, defeated last season's New Zealand Bloodstock Southern-Filly-Of-The-Year, Royal Miss (Volksraad x Bashful Lady) and Lydgina (Personal Escort x Noble Girl).

A $47,000 yearling at the 2003 New Zealand Bloodstock Select Colts Sale, Coup Bloomsbury had placed in both the Listed Timaru Stakes (1200m) at Riccarton Park on January 28 and the Listed Greenslades Stakes (1400m) at Wingatui on February 11 at his previous outings.

Pure Harmony Heads Notable Double for Stravinsky

Cambridge Stud stallion, Stravinsky continues to create headlines, with his talented three-year-old daughter, Pure Harmony (Stravinsky x Ballycairn) spearheading a notable double for the sire in Melbourne on Saturday, with victory in the Gr.2 Woodstock Classic (1500m) at Moonee Valley.

Now in the care of Mick Price, having originally been trained by Lee Freedman, Pure Harmony scored by a length and three-quarters in the hands of Noel Callow, defeating Pinezero and Pasikatera.

Purchased for $180,000 from the New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale in 2004 by Robert Roulston, Pure Harmony is a half sister to Galway Lass (Entrepreneur), who finished second in an Auckland Cup.

The Group Two success is the best victory to date for Pure Harmony, who has now won 4 of her 7 starts.

The Paul Perry trained, Biscayne Bay (Stravinsky x Mont Tremblant) had to survive a protest when successful in the Jayco Handicap (1200m) at Moonee Valley. The talented three-year-old made it back to back victories, having been successful at Flemington over 1100m on February 4th.

Biscayne Bay was purchased by Paul Perry from the draft of Ascot Farm at the 2004 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Sale for $110,000.

Stravinsky recently made headlines when his colt from Grand Echezeaux fetched $2.2 million at the recent New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales