Epic Weekend for Karaka Graduates

In what can only be described as an epic weekend's racing for New Zealand bred thoroughbreds, graduates of the Karaka Sales ring won three Group 1 races in Australasia plus the Group 2 AJC Chairman's Handicap and the Listed ARC Champagne Stakes.

In an enviable feat New Zealand breds took out quinellas in the Group 1 AJC Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick and the Group 1 WATC Western Australia Derby at Ascot on Saturday.

Karaka Premier Sale graduate Roman Emperor (Montjeu x Gussy Godiva by Last Tycoon) took the top honours for Bart Cummings in Sydney. Hitting the lead at the 300 metre mark under Kiwi-born hoop Jim Cassidy, he was ridden out to win by a short neck. Fellow NZ-bred Harris Tweed (Monteju x Sally by Prized) put in a game run up the inside for second. Trained by Murray and Bjorn Baker in Cambridge, the winner of last Saturday's Group 2 STC Tulloch Stakes was bred and is raced by Phil Bayly.

Last year the Baker Stable readied another son of Montjeu in Nom du Jeu for the race, this time to win. They also prepared Harris Tweed's half-brother Rios (Hussonet) who finished unplaced after running second in the Tulloch the week before.

Adding a further connection to Saturday's race, the stable used to train Roman Emperor's dam, Gussy Godiva as well as her Group 1 winning half-sister Black Mamba (Black Minnaloushe) who sold to America. In the same vein, they also sold subsequent Group 1 VRC Derby winner Kibbutz (Golan).

Cummings purchased Roman Emperor, his fifth AJC Derby winner, at the Karaka Premier Sale for $240,000 from Little Avondale Stud.

Lightly tried, he has had just eight starts including one win prior to Saturday and with his share of the AU$1.5 million purse has just over AU$1 million to his credit.

Entered on account of Curraghmore Stud at Lot 5 in the upcoming National Weanling, Broodmare and Mixed Bloodstock Sale from 4 - 6 May is a weanling colt by first season sire Lucky Unicorn (Redoute's Choice) from Go Hayley Go (Centaine), a half-sister to Black Mamba and Gussy Godiva.

Roman Emperor is from the last crop of former Windsor Park Stud shuttle-sire Montjeu (Sadler's Wells) who stands on Coolmore Stud's Irish roster. He is represented by seven broodmare propositions at the National Weanling, Broodmare and Mixed Bloodstock Sale.

Taking out the other feature at Randwick, the Group 2 AJC Chairman's Handicap, was 2006 Karaka Premier Sale graduate Divine Rebel (Don Eduardo x It's My Sin by Success Express) for Mike Moroney. Recording her sixth career win, and second at stakes level, she provided her Haunui Stud sire Don Eduardo with his best success to date. She was purchased by Paul Moroney Bloodstock for $80,000 from Seaton Park.

Meanwhile the west coast Markus Maximus (Pentire x Shafty Lady by Last Tycoon) continued New Zealand's Derby roll, this time in the Group 1 WATC Western Australian Derby for trainer Peter Moody and rider Luke Nolen.

Fellow Kiwi-bred Berlioz (Zabeel x Jervaux by Slavic) finished just a head in arrears. Plans for the impressive winner in the short term are currently undecided. However, a little further ahead, a tilt at this year's Melbourne Cup could be on the cards, with Roman Emperor also tipped to have the ultimate staying test on his horizon as well.

Moody purchased Markus Maximus from Waikato Stud's 2007 Karaka Premier draft for $60,000 with Saturday's win boosting the winner of three's prizemoney haul to AU$340,575

He becomes Rich Hill Stud shuttle sire Pentire's ninth Group 1 winner and fourth Derby winner with the successful sire represented by seven progeny at Karaka in May.

With Roman Emperor and Markus Maximus both from Last Tycoon mares, he is now the sire of the dams of 19 Group 1 winners including recent Group 1 NZB Insurance NZ Oaks winner, and National Weanling Sale graduate, Jungle Rocket (Jungle Pocket).

Taking out the feature at Ellerslie on Saturday, the Group 1 Land Pride Easter Handicap (1600m) was $40,000 Karaka Select Sale graduate Prince Kaapstad (Kaapstad x Brilliant Princess by Spectrum).

The Richard Yuill-trained four-year-old took out the event by one and a quarter lengths in the hands of Sam Spratt with the Stephen McKee runner Irish Opera (Stravinsky x Acushla Marie by Lord Ballina) filling second spot. National Weanling Sale graduate and recent Group 2 Japan NZ International Trophy winner My Astron (My Halo x Salute by Mistral Dancer) finished third.

Bought from Windsor Park Stud's 2006 draft, under the Pukekohe Park-based trainer's guidance Prince Kaapstad has now won almost $470,000 in prizemoney with some of his most notable performances including finishing second in the Group 1 New Zealand Derby to C'est la Guerre and winning the Group 2 ARC Great Northern Guineas (1600m).

My Astron was purchased for $3,000 as a weanling in 2004 and has now won over $261,225.

In Ellerslie's second feature of the day, the Listed Network Visuals Champagne Stakes (1600m), the Peter McKay-trained Joey Massino (O'Reilly x Rationable by Housebuster) stepped out from the shadow of his Karaka Million winning half-brother Vincent Mangano, winning by a creditable two and a half lengths from stablemate Warrentherooster (Savabeel x Florida by Pompeii Court).

He was a $140,000 purchase by the Montego Lodge Partnership from his breeders, Waikato Stud at last year's Premier Yearling Sale.

Third in the race was Stephen Autridge's $32,500 Karaka Select Sale purchase from Seaton Park, Bear Heart (Bertolini x Heartache by Casual Lies).