Half Brother to Sir Slick at Karaka 2009

The sixth Group 1 victory by Sir Slick yesterday at Trentham proved timely for Monovale Farm who will offer his Zabeel half-brother tomorrow on day one of the Karaka Premier Sale at Lot 131.

The Karaka Select Sale graduate demonstrated his raw guts and determination in winning the Group 1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) at his second start in New Zealand after returning from his Australian campaign under 14 days ago.

Sir Slick (Volksraad - Miss Opera, by Paris Opera), in the hands of senior jockey David Walsh, was content to sit just off the leader Culminate (Stravinsky) until the half-way mark where he took Sir Slick to the front by as much as four lengths at one stage.

Rounding the home turn Sir Slick maintained a strong gallop to the line, signaling the warhorse was back in New Zealand and back to the winners circle.

His trainer Graeme Nicholson was overwhelmed by the win.

"This is very emotional, this is. To bring him back to New Zealand and to do this second start is unbelievable. He's marvellous. What can I say? He's human really, you can do anything with him....I'm just gutted for words."

Monovale Farm will offer a half-brother to Sir Slick on day one of Karaka Premier tomorrow.

The bay colt by champion New Zealand sire, Zabeel, is not only a half-brother to New Zealand's Champion Middle Distance horse in 2006-07, but also a sibling of three other winners including the stakes placed Shortblackmini (Black Minnaloushe) and Mr Jinky - Sugar on Top (HK).

Their dam Miss Opera won six races including the Listed Castletown Stakes. Sir Slick was a $48,000 purchase from Mapperley Stud at the 2003 Select Colts Sale by Graeme Nicholson.

Sir Slick's victory capped a great day New Zealand Bloodstock graduates performed outstandingly yesterday capturing every feature stakes race in New Zealand.

The South Island trained duo of Karaka graduates Megapins (Pins - Instant Divorce, by Fiesta Star) and Borninthestates (Chief Bearheart - Emanation, by Iades) ran the quinella in the Group 2 Wellington Cup (2400m).

The grey mare by Pins enjoyed the good-rated track in Wellington which allowed her to use her outstanding turn of foot in the home straight. Ridden by Trudy Thornton and trained by John and Karen Parsons of Balcairn, Megapins was purchased from Te Manga Lodge at the 2005 Karaka Ready to Run Sale for $15,000 by Ian McMullin of Taupo who races the mare in partnership.

Fellow Karaka Ready to Run graduate Hold it Harvey (King Cugat - Daly Charm, by Best Western) continued the Karaka dominance winning the Listed CJC Timaru Stakes (1400m) in a blanket finish. Trained by Terri Rae, the gelding maintained the good form he showed as a three-year-old to finish strongly and grab victory by a nostril.

Karaka 2009 begins tomorrow with selling getting underway at 11am. Visit http://www.nzb.co.nz/ to see the sales streamed live online.