Align Casts Spotlight on Highview Stud Sale

It couldn't have been more timely for Highview Stud sire Align to deliver his second Group 1 winner, than just eight days before Highview undertakes its Deplenishing Sale this Sunday 16 March.

Talented two-year-old Fully Fledged (Align - Fledged, by Bluebird) had, until Saturday, given the racing public only glimpses of his brilliance, with his wayward behaviour denying him a win since his Taupo debut on 30 December. His errant displays have seen him run off the track, and, in the Group 2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes, charge through the running rail with the race all but in the bag.

However, on best behaviour in the Group 1 Ford Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie on Saturday, Fully Fledged held on impressively in the finish to take the race by a long neck from Pins filly, Raid, and record his sire's second Group 1 winner since his progeny hit the tracks in 2004/5.

Align's first Group 1 winner was last season's top rated two-year-old, Nightlign (Align - Indian Squaw, by Carolingian). Nightlign won on debut at Te Rapa in February, then won again at Te Rapa three weeks later before taking the Group 1 Ford Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m) at Awapuni on March 31. Retaining his unbeaten record, he moved to Almond Lee's stable in Hong Kong where he will race this season for new owner Chuen Lo.

With 63 winners from his four crops, Align has also been represented by Group 1 performers Everswindell and Out of Align.

A Group 1 AJC Sires Produce winner, Align (Night Shift - Super Trend, by Red Anchor) was himself the champion Australian Two-Year-Old of 1999 and top weighted two-year-old of the 1998/99 racing season ahead of Redoute's Choice, Testa Rossa and Shogun Lodge.

The 91 entries in the Highview Deplenishing Sale include 28 weanlings, 20 yearlings, 7 racehorses and 36 broodmares.

Align has six weanlings, three yearlings, three racehorses, one broodmare, and is the covering sire of seven mares in Sunday's Sale. In addition to the representation by Align there are weanlings and yearlings by Danroad (AUS), Johar (USA), Kashani (USA) and San Luis (AUS).

The 36 broodmares include:

Group 3 winner Senorita Dane (by Senor Pete) in foal to O'Reilly;
Group 3 winning Snaadee mare Snadame, dam of Senorita Dane, and in foal to Fast 'n Famous;
Third top two-year-old filly of her year Snow Reason, dam of stakes performer Realign and in foal to Duelled;
The Last Tycoon mare Brindillemousse, daughter of Group 1 Australasian Oaks winner Gatherneaux;
Dual winning Rory's Jester mare Abenezra, in foal to Towkay; and
Zabeel mare Creole, served by Danroad.
The Sale will be conducted at Highview Stud (1544 Kakaramea Rd, RD 10, Hamilton) on 16 March from 1pm with gates opening at 10am. There will be a minimum price of $1,000 on every lot offered.

For more information contact NZB Marketing Manager Petrea Vela (petrea.vela@nzb.co.nz) or Brent Gillovic (brent@highview.co.nz).