Weanling graduate He Kin Fly (NZ) Takes Great Easter

With another quality group of weanlings about to be offered in the 2019 Karaka May Sale, a graduate of the 2013 edition of that Sale played a starring role in Saturday’s $50,000 Listed Daphne Bannan Memorial Great Easter Stakes (1400m) at Riccarton.

He Kin Fly (NZ) (Darci Brahma) was bought for $62,500 at the 2013 National Weanling, Broodmare & Mixed Bloodstock Sale.

Trained by Neill Ridley, he had already been a black-type winner earlier this year in the Listed Timaru Stakes over the same course and distance. On Saturday he produced another outstanding performance.

Responding to the urgings of jockey Lee Callaway, He Kin Fly outfinished the multiple stakes winner Kiwi Ida (Squamosa) and stretched out to win by half a length. Another Karaka graduate, Prosecco (NZ) (Stravinsky), made a late run to take second by a nose from Kiwi Ida.

“We actually were underbidders on him as a weanling when Mark and Sarah Devcich bought him,” part-owner Bruce Harvey told NZ Racing Desk.

“We kept an eye on him through his early starts and when he went up to Hong Kong. I don’t think he was suited by the harder tracks up there, so when his connections retired him and were looking for a home, we asked if we could take him and try him if he was sound and they agreed.

“We got him back, got him going and then sent him down to Neill. We thought the South Island tracks might suit him and that has proven correct. He has been going super ever since he went down there.

“We got a huge thrill watching it on TV, and I’m sure all the neighbours heard all about what was going on with the cheering coming from our place.”

It was a fourth consecutive win for He Kin Fly, who has now had a total of 25 starts for eight wins, five placings and $303,675 in stakes – more than 4.8 times his purchase price.

Prosecco, a half-sister to the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Dijon Bleu (NZ) (Burgundy), was a $25,000 purchase at the 2014 Select Sale. She has now had 31 starts for four wins, eight placings and $75,445 in stakes.

For your chance to find another He Kin Fly, head to the 2019 Karaka May Sale at Karaka on May 17. This year’s catalogue features 154 weanlings.