Talented Juveniles Eligible for Classique

A host of talented juveniles are emerging as candidates for New Zealand's richest two-year-old race, the New Zealand Bloodstock $500,000 Classique (1200m) (Res. L), it will be run at Te Rapa Racecourse on Saturday 3 February. The past two runnings of the Classique have been won by Italia (Stravinsky x Capote Crossing) and Wahid (Almutawakel x Rory's Helen).

A live barrier draw will be conducted on Wednesday 31 January at the Karaka Sales Centre before the first session of the Select Yearling Sale.

This year will see the final running of the Classique, which will be replaced by the Karaka Million in 2008.

Leading the order of entry by prize money won is John Wheeler-trained The Pooka (Tobougg x The Banchee), following his decisive win in the Group 2 $100,000 Ford Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1200m) at Trentham on Saturday.

Alamosa (O'Reilly x Lodore Mystic) is second on the order of entry as the winner of two races including the Listed Wellesley Stakes (1000m) back in October.

Emerging the victor in all three of her starts, including the Listed Counties Challenge Stakes (1100m), sees Gerald Shand's 2006 Karaka Premier Sale purchase Crossyourheart sitting in third. Trained by the Collett/Hapeta team at Pukekohe, she is by current leading two-year-sire in Australia, Show a Heart, and is out of the Centaine mare Red Century.

Group 3 ARC Eclipse Stakes winner Grand Dancer (No Excuse Needed x Clermont Rose) currently fills fourth spot while Seppelt (Danehill Dancer x Great Vintage) is fifth.

ENDS