More Black-Type for Shuka

More Black-Type for ShukaThe Listed Ray Coupland Stakes (1400m) at Ashburton yesterday saw a tough performance from the Peter and Dawn Williams trained Shuka who led home a NZB quinella in the race.

A winner of the Group 2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1200m) as a two-year-old, Shuka (NZ) (Bachelor Duke x Alabama Rose) was ridden by Hayden Tinsley and was forced to race wide in the early stages before settling fourth for the running. Heading into the straight Shuka was right on the speed with Karaka
graduate Rock 'n' Pop coming wider to challenge, and the pair fought the race out to the line, with Shuka proving too tough at the post winning by a head. Shuka came into the race after running a good third fresh-up to Final Touch in the Coupland's Bakeries Rating 80 (1200m) at Riccarton in mid-September. Now a black-type winner at ages to and three, the win was Shuka's third from seven career starts.

Shuka was bred by Karreman Bloodstock and was purchased by New Zealand Bloodstock as Agent from The Oaks Stud for $20,000 at the 2010 Karaka Select Sale. He has now won over $95,000 in stakes. Rock 'n' Pop (Fastnet Rock x Popsy) would have lost no admirers with his performance. He came from off the speed and at one stage looked to have taken the lead in the straight and he provided NZB with the black-type quinella. Purchased by Jayven See from Esker Lodge at the 2010 Karaka Premier Sale for $1 million, the colt has had three starts for two seconds and a win on debut.

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