Second G1 Doncaster Falls to Sacred

Second G1 Doncaster Falls to Sacred

Kiwi miler Sacred Falls (NZ) (O’Reilly) successfully defended the Group 1 A$3,000,000 The Star Doncaster Mile (1600m) on the first day of The Championships at Royal Randwick in Sydney.

The son of O’Reilly burst into the limelight in Australia this time last year as he defeated a stellar field in the 2013 Group 1 Doncaster Handicap as he succeeded over champion racehorse Pierro (Lonhro) for trainer Chris Waller.

Returning this year with 56.5kg, a 3.5kgs rise in weight from what he carried to victory last year, the son of O’Reilly continued the outstanding record New Zealand-bred horses have in Australia’s premier mile race, winning six of the last seven runnings of the Group 1 Doncaster Handicap.

Ridden by Hong Kong-based Australian jockey Zac Purton, Sacred Falls jumped from barrier 13 and settled with only two horses behind him. Purton cut the corner and picked a path through the field to challenge near the inside.

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Bred: Waikato Stud Ltd Offered: Waikato Stud Ltd Purchased: Mulcaster Bloodstock at New Zealand Bloodstock's 2011 Karaka Premier Sale - $160,000

Another Group 1 Winner for NZB Ready to Run

The lightly raced but talented galloper Albany Reunion (Fastnet Rock) completed a meteoric rise through the grades to triumph in the Group 1 $200,000 Manco Easter Handicap (1600m) at only his eighth career start.

Albany Reunion Easter web
Albany Reunion triumphant in the Group 1 Manco Easter Handicap.
Photo courtesy of Trish Dunell.

The Ready to Run graduate’s worst finish in his short career was a fourth placing in the Group 1 Telegraph Handicap earlier this season. He was a last start winner at Ellerslie over 1400m for trainer Nigel Tiley and won a trial leading into Saturday’s Group 1 feature.

The four-year-old gelding had to overcome a wide barrier of 15 in the 18-horse field for rider Mark du Plessis.

After starting well the son of Fastnet Rock was caught three-wide without cover, having to do extra work around the field. There were a number of chances as the field sprinted for home but it was Albany Reunion who stuck his head out in a close finish to prevail over Chintz (NZ) (Savabeel), who dived late but missed by a half-head, with Rollout the Carpet (Holy Roman Emperor) only a nose away in third.

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Bred: Westbury Stud Ltd Offered: Lyndhurst Farm Purchased: Passed in at New Zealand Bloodstock's 2011 Ready to Run Sale

More Group Glory for Nashville

Dual Group 1 winner Nashville (NZ) (Darci Brahma) was back in the winner’s circle on Saturday, cruising to victory in the Group 3 $100,000 Coco-Cola Canterbury Gold Cup (2000m) at Riccarton.

NASHVILLE WIN CGC web
Nashville (NZ) winning the Group 3 Coco-Cola Canterbury Gold Cup.
Photo courtesy of Race Images Chch Ltd.

The NZ$40,000 Ready to Run Sale graduate won his second Group 1 Haunui Farm WFA Classic in February for the training partnership of Adrian & Harry Bull, and has now won four races at stakes level.

This year’s Group 1 Haunui Farm WFA Classic was the first time Johnathan Riddell rode Nashville, and the leading rider was once again aboard on Saturday after riding the winner of the first race at Trentham then flying south to Christchurch to take the mount on classy gelding.

Riddell drifted to near the tail of the field on the Darci Brahma gelding in the Heavy 10 conditions. The race-favourite tracked The Glitzy One (Flying Spur) around the corner and the two horses were the widest runners entering the straight.

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Bred: Chesterfields Ltd Offered: Chesterfields Ltd Purchased: Beamish Bloodstock at New Zealand Bloodstock's 2010 Ready to Run Sale - $40,000

Second Stakes Success for Speedy Minaj

Flying kiwi-bred filly Minaj (NZ) (Commands) sprinted to the second stakes win of her career with victory in the Listed A$80,000 Projection Graphics Redelva Stakes (1050m) in Adelaide on Saturday.

Minaj MV Night
Minaj (NZ) is now a dual stakes winner.

The Karaka Premier Sale graduate was a Listed winner at Moonee Valley in the spring and is highly rated by her trainer Anthony Freedman who lined her up in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate at her last start.

The three-year-old filly was given a freshen up following her tilt at the Group 1 level and started as race-favourite against a talented field of three-year-olds.

Ridden by Vlad Duric, Minaj settled outside of the leader and kicked clear in the straight, speeding to victory by a length over the late closing Miracles of Life (Not a Single Doubt), last season’s Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes winner, and Lucky Symbol (Magnus) in third.

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Bred: Miss C, D & L Hawkins & Llanhennock Trust Offered: Wentwood Grange Purchased: Lakeview Resources Pty Ltd at New Zealand Bloodstock's 2012 Karaka Premier Sale - $130,000

Madam Crowned NZB Southern Filly of the Year

A dominant display by Madam Victoria (NZ) (High Chaparral) in the Listed $50,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Warstep Stakes (2000m) at Riccarton has secured the three-year-old filly the coveted New Zealand Bloodstock Southern Filly of the Year crown.

MADAM VICTORIA Warstep web
Madam Victoria (NZ) successful in the Listed NZB Warstep Stakes.
Photo courtesy of Race Images Chch Ltd.

Leading into the race the High Chaparral filly already had one hand on the title with 14 points in the Series having won two of the three races in the Series, so the best any horse in Saturday’s field could do was to equal her with a win.

There was to be no upset as the two challengers to her crown, Silhouette Noir (Dane Shadow) and Orovela (NZ) (Saperavi), both failed to fire and finished unplaced.

The Terri Rae trained Madam Victoria did fire and she shot away from the field under a hands and heels ride from Darryl Bradley to score a decisive 4.5 length victory in the testing Heavy 10 track conditions. Porotene Park (NZ) (Thorn Park) held off Include (NZ) (Gallant Guru) to finish second and third respectively.

Ends

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