Fiumicino Fires for Karaka in Sydney

Fiumicino became New Zealand Bloodstock's fifteenth individual Group 1 winner this season in the Group 1 STC BMW Stakes (2400m) at Rosehill on Saturday, a day when Kiwi-breds strengthened their grip on the Sydney Autumn Carnival through Vision and Power in the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) and Harris Tweed in the Group 2 Tulloch Stakes (2000m).

The weight-for-age BMW was contested by Australasia's very best middle distance horses with Group 1 Melbourne Cup winner Viewed (Scenic), Group 1 Caulfield Cup winner Master O'Reilly (O'Reilly), Group 1 Ranvet and Epsom Handicap winner Theseo (Danewin), and Group 1 SAJC Oaks and South Australian Derby winner Zarita (Pentire) all lining up against eventual winner Fiumicino (Zabeel - Latte, by Maroof).

Trained by Michael, Wayne, and John Hawkes, and ridden by a mesmerizing Darren Beadman, Fiumicino returned to the form that saw him capture the 2007 AJC Derby at this very carnival. His three-quarter length victory over Theseo in the $2,276,000 BMW Stakes saw him join the likes of Kingston Town, Bonecrusher, Beau Zam, Dr Grace, Octagonal, and most recently Eremein, as winners of both the AJC Derby and BMW (Tancred) Stakes.

A $425,000 Karaka Premier purchase by current owner Nick Moraitis in 2005, the gelding bred and sold by Cambridge Stud and Graeme De Gruchy has now amassed some A$2,691,575 in prizemoney.

Fiumicino is a grandson of 6 time Group 1 winner Horlicks (NZ), the Group 1 Japan Cup winner has already struck at the carnival as a grand-dam with Solo Flyer (Belong to Me) in the Group 2 STC Ajax Stakes on 28 March. This is of course the same family as the recently deceased sire General Nediym (Nediym).

Fiumicino's dam Latte (Maroof) has a weanling colt at foot by Darley's internationally proven sire Elusive Quality, and is currently carrying a three-quarter sibling to Fiumicino with a foal in utero by Zabeel's unbeaten Group 1 winning son Reset.

Click here for a complete list of New Zealand Bloodstock's Group1 winners.

The other notable winning performance by a Karaka graduate in Australia over the weekend was the victory by Excelltastic (Exceed and Excel - Fantail, by Lear Fan) in the Listed Port Adelaide Guineas (1800m).

The three year old from an international stakes producing family was purchased from Haunui Farm at the 2007 Karaka Premier Sale for $125,000 by leading trainer Peter Moody. The listed race was the first black type success after placing at Group 1 level in the Spring Champion Stakes behind fellow NZB graduate Sousa (Galileo).

NZB graduates numbered two in the Port Adelaide Guineas and they quinellaed the race when Bondarchuk (Soviet Star - South Carolina, by Sothern Halo) ran second to Excelltastic by a short half-head. He was sold to Darrell Ible Bloodstock for $90,000 by The Oaks Stud at Karaka Premier 2007 and is now trained by Philip Stokes.

Catalogues are now available for New Zealand Bloodstock's National Weanling, Broodmare, and Mixed Bloodstock Sale at Karaka on 4, 5 and 6 May.