Wild Night (NZ) Wins Again

Karaka graduates finished first, second and third in the $100,000 Listed Shaw’s Wire Ropes Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m) at Pukekohe on Boxing Day, and once again it was the winning machine Wild Night (NZ) (Vanbrugh) who led the way. 

Bought by David Ellis for $50,000 from Book 1 of Karaka 2021, the gelding has won five of his six starts – including all of his last five in a row. He is now a two-time stakes winner, having previously captured the Group Two Sarten Memorial (1400m) at Te Rapa, and he has earned $186,390.

Wild Night faced plenty of well-credentialled challengers on Monday, including last-start Group Three Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) winner Sacred Satono (NZ) (Satono Aladdin), but there would be no interruption to his remarkable winning sequence.

Unleashed in the straight by rider Opie Bosson, Wild Night bounded up alongside Sacred Satono and The Intimidator (Toronado) with less than 200 metres remaining. Those two rivals both tried to fight back and repel the challenge, but Wild Night had more power and more of a will to win, forging ahead to win by three-quarters of a length.

“He’s a bloody good horse, and there is still some improvement in him,” Bosson said. “He has been screaming out for a mile – they had him a little off the bit for much of the race – but when he lets down underneath you, jeez, it gives you an amazing feeling.

“He reminds me of Te Akau Shark (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle) a bit. He looks like him and has the same racing style.”

Trainer Mark Walker is now working towards next month’s $1m Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m), setting the scene for a mouth-watering clash with another of the star performers of Pukekohe’s Boxing Day meeting – undefeated Group Two Eight Carat Classic (1600m) heroine Legarto (NZ) (Proisir), who is also trained at Matamata.

“He’s on target for a mile and even a bit further later on,” Walker said. “I’m sure there’s going to be a bit of banter at the track with Legarto going into the Karaka Million 3YO Classic. It’s shaping up to be a tremendous race, and the mile is going to be right up our alley.”

Wallace Thoroughbreds paid only $34,000 to buy the Uncle Remus Stakes runner-up Sacred Satono from Book 2 of Karaka 2021. The colt has now earned $168,440 from a 10-start career that features three wins and four second placings.

Third-placed The Intimidator was a $160,000 purchase from Book 1 of Karaka 2021. He has had five starts for two wins, two seconds and a third, earning $61,040 with the promise of much more to come.