Zee Falls (NZ) Continues Sacred Falls Run

An impressive Group Three win by Zee Falls (NZ) (Sacred Falls) has continued a golden spring for her ill-fated sire – the multiple Group One-winning Karaka graduate Sacred Falls (NZ).

Zee Falls was also bought at Karaka, picked up for $130,000 from Book 1 of Karaka 2019. She earned black type at Otaki on Thursday with a $70,000 Lucia Valentina Wellington Stakes (1600m) victory that hinted at even bigger and better things to come in the future.

Ridden by Lisa Allpress, the lightly raced filly was prominently positioned before outfinishing the highly rated Key (Exceed and Excel) to win by three-quarters of a length.

Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh, who selected Zee Falls from the draft of Waikato Stud, now has his sights set on the Group One New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham in March.

“We wanted to go forward and get into a spot,” he told NZ Racing Desk. “She doesn’t have a racing pattern as yet, but she rolled forward to sit outside the leader and had to do a fair bit of work.

“It looked like she was going to get beaten by the favourite, but she toughed it out and won pretty comfortably in the end.

“She still doesn’t know what it is all about. She had her ears pricked and was really green once she got to the front. She’s only going to keep improving, that’s for sure.

“She’s by Sacred Falls out of a Zabeel mare – she is beautifully bred and is a Group Three winner now.

“This filly will have a break now and will be solely set for the Oaks. A filly like her, once she gets up over 2000 metres plus is when you are going to see a better horse again.”

Zee Falls is the latest in a flurry of stakes performers for Sacred Falls, who himself was a $160,000 purchase from the 2011 Premier Sale at Karaka and won the Group One New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m), George Main Stakes (1600m) and two editions of the Doncaster Handicap (1600m).

Sacred Falls stood at Waikato Stud until his untimely death in 2019, and he is posthumously having the best season of his career. He has sired 23 winners since August 1, with three individual stakes winners and another two black-type placegetters.

Undefeated Karaka graduate Aegon (NZ) has been the headline act, following his sire’s example and winning the Group One New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton earlier this month and the Group Two Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) in October. All Saints’ Eve (NZ) won the Group Three Tibbie Stakes (1400m) at Newcastle.

With limited chances now remaining to purchase the progeny of Sacred Falls, nine of his yearlings feature in the catalogue for Book 1 of Karaka 2021 and another nine in Book 2. Book 1 of Karaka 2021 will run from January 24 to 26, followed by Book 2 on January 27 and 28.

“They’re not making them anymore, but you wish they were because they are absolutely flying,” Marsh said. “He’s a loss to the industry, that’s for sure.”

Vendor	Waikato Stud
Purchaser	Marsh Racing (Waikato)
Breeding	Sacred Falls – Zelitist
Sale	Lot 541, Karaka 2019 Book 1, $130,000
Bred by	Chittick Investments