Weekend of Wins for Karaka Graduates

Monday, Nov 1, 2010

Topping off an exceptional weekend of performances in Melbourne and New Zealand, graduates of the Karaka sale ring notched up 14 victories in Hong Kong and Singapore on Sunday evening.

Of the ten races scheduled at Hong Kong's Happy Valley seven were won by NZB graduates, with Tuscan Spirit (Chianti x Fortelo) spearheading the Kiwi onslaught with a victory in the HK Class 1 Cheung Hong Handicap (1200m).

The John Size trained gelding registered victory by a nose from Royal Flush while the son of O'Reilly and fellow Karaka graduate, Kildare, came home just over a length away for third.

Tuscan Spirit was a $40,000 purchase by Mr WJ Stretton from Hallmark Stud at the 2007 Festival Yearling Sale and has gone on to amass career earnings of $1,026,924. 

A 2008 Premier Yearling Sale purchase by the Hong Kong Jockey Club for $210,000 from Brighthill Farm, Mark Up (Ishiguru x Wauwinet), took out the HK Class 3 Oi Man Handicap (1650m) later in the day at Happy Valley.

Owned by Fidelity Racing Syndicate, this was only the second start of the season for the Caspar Fownes trained gelding, with his previous effort resulting in a second place. The win confirmed that he has plenty of potential and Trainers' Premiership leader Fownes will be keen to hold that winning form throughout the season.

The same evening in Singapore emerging stayer Zac Missile (Yamanin Vital x Ranch) claimed the Mandai Classic S. (2200m), taking him a step closer to gaining a start in the Group 1 Singapore Gold Cup which is run over the same trip.

Trained by Michael Freedman, Zac Missile was a $20,000 purchase by Mr DR Wiles from Inglewood Stud at the 2008 Select Yearling Sale and, having won six of his 13 starts for owner Zac Stable, the four-year-old now has $281,529 in stakes earnings to his name.

Of the 11 race card at Kranji a further six races were won by Karaka graduates on Sunday in a strong showing of Kiwi talent. 

Horse Breeding RaceBreeder NZB Sale Details
Towkay FlyerTowkay - Classic RealmHK Class 4, 1000mJ A WorleyV. Little
Avondale Stud B. Sanders Racing Stables S. 06 Premier P. $46,000

NickuColombia - Florence MariaHK Class 5, 1650m H J & Mrs S A L TrumperV.
Cheveley Stud S. 07 Festival P. Psd $6,000 Res $10,000

Ho WongchoyCullen - Au RevoirHK Class 4, 1800m Profile Bloodstock LtdV.
Westbury Stud B. John Foote Bloodstock Pty Ltd S. 07 Carnival P. $32,000

All The WinnersBlack Minnaloushe - The Mighty LionsHK Class 4, 1200mWindsor
Park Stud LtdV. Windsor Park Stud B. Mr D O'Donnell S. 07 Premier P.
$190,000

Ambitious DragonPins - Golden GambleHK Class 4, 1650m E P LowryV. Belvedere
Farm S. 08 Select P. Psd $47,500 Res $50,000

Captain ScarletCaptain Rio - Miss MonkSingapore Maiden (2&3YO),
1100mWestbury Stud LtdV. Westbury Stud B. Mr H Forbes S. 09 Select P.
$40,000

WindspoutPostponed - OcarinaSingapore Class 4, 1600mKaraka Group LtdV. Twin
Pines B. Mr CP Mcnab S. 08 Carnival P. $35,000

Gut Feel Rusty Spur - Vain Ana Singapore Novice, 1200mJ L DonaldsonV.
Totara Park Stud B. Mr Kah Wui Lim S. 08 Festival P. $32,000

MaraetiAlign - EcstaticallySingapore Class 4, 2400m Highview Stud LtdV.
Highview Stud B. P/I S. 07 Carnival P. Psd $7,000 Res $10,000

Daring YouthBertolini - Ebony PearlSingapore Class 5, 1100m W E Jeffries &
L F SheeranV. Hallmark Stud B. Robert Roulston Bloodstock S. 07 Ready to
Run P. $30,000

Silveron WingsBlack Minnaloushe - Cruz Control Singapore Class 4, 1400m
Fusion Thoroughbreds LtdV. Little Avondale Stud B. Mr DR Wiles S. 09 Select
P. $16,000