Chase (NZ) Triumphs In Group Three Winter Cup

Saturday’s $110,000 Group Three Winning Edge Presentations Winter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton continued an incredible ride for the connections of Chase (NZ) (Zed), who bought him for only $9,000 from Book 3 of Karaka 2018. Originally a $6,000 purchase by JD Corcoran when offered as a weanling from Valachi Downs in the 2017 National Weanling, Broodmare & Mixed Bloodstock Sale.

Chase has now earned $413,398 – more than 45 times his purchase price – with eight wins and 21 placings from a 58-start career. While Saturday’s Winter Cup was his first black-type win, he had previously placed in the Group One Captain Cook Stakes (1600m), Group One Otaki-Maori WFA Classic (1600m) and Group Three Metric Mile (1600m).

The nine-year-old gelding is trained by Stephan Nickalls, who shares ownership with his partner Laura Knight as well as her father, former All Black Gary Knight.

“I’m in tears, this is amazing,” Nickalls said after Saturday’s triumph. “My little daughter (10-year-old Mya Nickalls) is here and this just doesn’t get any better. It is just phenomenal seeing her lead him in. It is so amazing.

“We’re a tight family unit and I’m lost for words.”

Chase was ridden by Tina Comignaghi on Saturday and settled in midfield behind a solid pace set by top-class winter galloper Bradman (NZ) (Pins).

Chase became the third consecutive Karaka graduate to win the time-honoured Winter Cup, following on from Jay Bee Gee (NZ) (Complacent) in 2024 and Belardo Boy (NZ) (Belardo) in 2023.

Notably, both Chase and Saturday’s third placegetter Bradman were bred by the late Kevin Hickman.

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