Karaka Ready to Run Graduate Rocks Queensland

Karaka Ready to Run graduate Rockdale returned to top form in downing Australia's best Autumn three-year-olds at Doomben on Saturday, just a couple of hours after fellow Ready To Run graduate Flying Fulton defeated New Zealand's best Autumn two-year-olds at Ellerslie.

Purchased and now trained by leading Queensland trainer John Morrisey from the flourishing Karaka Ready to Run Sale, Rockdale (Danroad x Komplete Kaos, by Desert Sun) won the 2008 Group 1 TJ Smith Classic (1600m) at the Queensland Winter Carnival on June 9 last year, less than seven months after selling at Karaka for $135,000.

The front-running son of Danroad returned to the Carnival on Saturday in fine style, bowling along in the lead and proving too tough for his opposition in the Group 3 Mullins Lawyers Rough Habit Plate (2020m). Arrowfield's Rezyana was half a length second, while another Karaka graduate, Larry's Never Late (Pentire x Laebeel, by Zabeel), was third.

The Rough Habit is a major lead-up to the Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) on June 6, a double which Bart Cummings achieved in 2007 with Empire's Choice (Redoute's Choice). Rockdale's immediate pedigree suggests a question mark over his stamina with neither his sire or dam winning beyond 1600m, but those who search deeper into his genetics will find that he hails from one of the Aga Khan's families which has left the likes of Group 1 Breeder's Cup Turf hero Kalanisi (Doyoun) and Group 2 Scottish Derby winner Kalaman (Desert Prince).

Held in mid-November each year, New Zealand Bloodstock's Ready to Run Sale has gained the confidence of buyers across Asia and the South Pacific and is now recognised as the leading horses in training sale held in Australasia.

Sold by Janine Dunlop's Phoenix Park at the 2007 Karaka Sale, Rockdale has now won over A$530,000 for his owners Gundaroo Stud. Trainer John Morrisey purchased six horses at the 2007 Sale on behalf of Gundaroo, for a total outlay of $438,500. Now just three-year-olds, four of them have won or placed, and the final two staying types by Ekraar and Kilimanjaro have been named.

Gundaroo flag-bearer Rockdale now heads to the Group 1 Queensland Derby in an attempt to complete a TJ Smith Classic- Queensland Derby double that has not been achieved since Freemason (Grand Lodge) in 1999-2000, and before that, Lord Spear (Spearful) in 1941 when the Queensland Derby was held in November.
Following Rockdale's black type success was Te Akau's Flying Fulton (Flying Spur x Fulton, by Zabeel) at Ellerslie on Saturday in the Listed Maltby's Great Northern Foal Stakes (1400m).

Sold by George and Maryanne Simon's Mana Park just last November, Flying Fulton, who breezed in a time of 10.73 for the 200m, made $210,000 to the bid of Te Akau principal David Ellis and is now raced by the Te Akau Stallion Syndicate No. 2.

Click here to view his breeze online.
An exciting three-year-old prospect, Flying Fulton is the first foal of Fulton (Zabeel), a three-quarter sister to Jonathan Munz's leading three year old filly Zapurple (Zabeel), winner of the Group 3 SAJC Fillies Classic this season.

Flying Fulton is now likely to head to Christchurch for the New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) in November, a race that should suit the progressive colt ideally.

New Zealand Bloodstock's 2009 Ready to Run Sale will be held at Karaka on 17 and 18 November, with NZB's upcoming South Island Sale (7 August) and Winter Mixed Bloodstock Sale (2 August) providing pin-hook opportunities for the event.