Who Will Be Nz'S Richest 2yo?

This Saturday will see New Zealand's richest race for 2YO's, the Mercedes Super Bonus Classique (Restricted Listed) contested at the Waikato Racing Club's Te Rapa Racecourse. Not surprisingly the richest race has attracted a superb field of juveniles, all graduates of the 2003 New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sales, to compete over 1200m for the valuable prize money.

Early favourites for the event include the unbeaten in 4 starts, Listed winner Clifton Prince (Volksraad x Trickery). Clifton Prince, trained by Peter McKay was not so lucky drawing barrier 10 of 13, but was an impressive winner last start when taking out the $150,000 Mercedes Super Bonus Prelude (1100m).

Another last start impressive winner lining up this Saturday is Clean Sweep (End Sweep x Eidercrown) winner of the $150,000 Mercedes Super Bonus Fillies' Prelude at Ellerslie on Boxing Day. Clean Sweep is the winner of two races from just three starts and is trained at Matamata by the Michael Moroney & Andrew Scott combination.

Highly favoured is last start Gr 2 Wakefield Stakes winner Kapsdan (Kaapstad x Danaselvam) who ran a record time of 1.07.24 over the same 1200m distance. Kapsdan, a four time winner is trained by in form Matamata trainer Mark Walker and has drawn perfectly in barrier one.

Mark Walker has a four-pronged attack on the event and knows what it takes to win the race having won last year with King's Chapel (King of King's x Lower Chapel) who has gone on to become a two time Gr 1 winner.

This year he also saddles up last start winner Time And Moment (Redoute's Choice x Buncrana), Listed winner Queenza (King of King's x Crownette) & Woodtric (Woodman x Trickster) who ran 2nd to Clifton Prince on debut and 3rd at her latest outing at Ellerslie. Queenza & Woodtric are raced by the same connections that won last year with King's Chapel.

Paul O'Sullivan saddles up two runners in the Classique; the highly consistent and listed placed filly Iflooxcouldkill (Daggers Drawn x Hear's Hoping) & Gr 2 placed Prickle (Pins x Snobbish). Both fillies have drawn midfield for Saturday in barriers six and eight respectively.

Another runner who could figure in the finish is the John Sargent and Karl Allpress trained runner Successor (Bahhare x Betty Doolin) who finished third to Clifton Prince at Awapuni Racecourse in the $150,000 Mercedes Super Bonus Prelude (1100m).

Other runners in Saturday's $500,000 Mercedes Super Bonus Classique include the Murray Baker trained Majestic Sweep (End Sweep x Te Akau Bird); Manten (Encosta de Lago x Dazzling Belle) trained by Graeme Rogerson and Stephen Autridge at Tuhikaramea; Sir Slick (Volksraad x Miss Opera) trained by Graeme Nicholson and the Graeme Sanders and Debbie Sweeney trained Victory Strike (Straight Strike x Victory Leah) who has drawn favourably in barrier two.

Graeme Sanders & Debbie Sweeney also have a good record in the race having won previously with Lady Dehere.

$500,000 MERCEDES 2YO CLASSIQUE RUNNER INFORMATION

CLEAN SWEEP
Purchased from the 2003 Premier Sale for $20,000
Owners: Graeme Duff, Liberato Petagna & Max Brown

CLIFTON PRINCE
Purchased from the 2003 Select Colts Sale for $27,000
Owners: Alan Norton, Alister Cameron, Nicky Covey & Peter & Kim McKay

IFLOOXCOULDKILL
Purchased from the 2003 Select Fillies Sale for $42,500
Owners: Mr Michael & Mrs Nanette Carroll, Mrs Kathryn Devine, Mr Alistair & Mrs Charlotte Sutherland

KAPSDAN
Purchased from the 2003 Premier Sale for $40,000
Owners: Mandalay Bay Syndicate - Mngr. David Ellis

MAJESTIC SWEEP
Purchased from the 2003 Premier Sale for $50,000
Owner: Ian McCarrison

MANTEN
Purchased from the 2003 Premier Sale for $90,000
Owners: Aitetu Company Ltd - Racing Mngr Peter Hingston

PRICKLE
Purchased from the 2003 Premier Sale for $75,000
Owners: Brian Anderson, Robert Dalley, Graeme Shaw, Garry & Kevin Sta