Black Type for Blood Brotha & Vincent Mangano

NZB graduates Blood Brotha and Vincent Mangano swooped to black type victory on the first day of the Christchurch Carnival on Saturday, with Blood Brotha claiming the $70,000 Group 3 Gold Club Metropolitan Trophy (2500m) and Vincent Mangano sprinting to victory in the $45,000 Listed Yesburg Pegasus Stakes (1000m).

First Black Type for Blood Brotha

Positioned wide and well back in the field on the turn Blood Brotha was given his head by jockey Lisa Allpress as they entered the straight and the five-year-old responded with a surge of speed that carried them to the front of the field to take the race.

The five-year-old is by Danzighill (Danehill) from Laura Dee and with this win he has become the first stakeswinner for his sire. Blood Brotha is prepared in Wanganui by Raymond Connors, the trainer and part-owner of Hypnotize, winner of the Great Northern Steeplechase for the third time in September. He races both horses with his father, Mark.

 A length behind him in second place was fellow Karaka graduate Bakup (Kilimanjaro x Dastaria) who is trained by VRC Derby winning trainers, Murray and Bjorn Baker.

Blood Brotha is now set to contest next weekend's New Zealand Cup over 3200 metres and he has the staying pedigree for the distance with great-grand-dam Princess Mellay a dual winner of the New Zealand Cup. Allpress will have the Cup mount on Blood Brotha after her strong ride on Saturday.

Blood Brotha was purchased by Connors from White Robe Lodge after being passed in for $14,000 as a two-year-old at the 2007 NZB South Island Sale.

Last to First Victory for Vincent Mangano

Earlier in the day Vincent Mangano's devastating turn of foot saw the five-year-old lead home a Karaka graduate trifecta in the Listed Yesburg Pegasus Stakes.

Well back at the beginning of the straight the Peter McKay trained gelding motored home at the urging of jockey Sam Spratt to take the sprint by a length from race leader Celeris (Fusaichi Pegasus x Cuphill), with Queen of the Castle (Castledale x Katie) two-and-a-half lengths back for third.

A son of No Excuse Needed out of Rationable, Vincent Mangano was purchased by Peter McKay for $80,000 at the 2007 Premier Yearling Sale from Waikato Stud. Winner of the exciting $1 million Karaka Million as a two-year-old, Vincent Mangano has four black type wins to his name and career earnings of $661,995.

A half-brother to Vincent Mangano, by Waikato Stud sire O'Reilly, is nominated for the 2011 National Yearling Sales, as is a half brother to Blood Brotha by Gallant Guru.

The 2011 Karaka National Yearling Sale Series will be held at New Zealand Bloodstock's Karaka sale complex on 31 January to 7 February. Catalogues will be available from 26 November.