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By Wandering Eyes · Posted
The Karaka Millions twilight meeting is always a key focus for Te Akau Racing, and they are set to have another strong hand in this year’s edition. The country’s leading stable has had a stranglehold on the TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) in recent years, winning eight of the last nine editions of the race, and they will be represented in this year’s running by a trio of juveniles. Unbeaten Group Two winner Kinnaird will lead the stable’s charge, with trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson also upbeat about the chances of stakes performer Out Of The Blue and Zaharias. “I am really excited to have three nice chances in a race we find very special,” Bergerson said. “Kinnaird is leading the charge. It is hard to fault his form and he continues to go the right way, he has done really well since Ellerslie on New Year’s Day. “He has got a nice gate (2) with Opie (Bosson, jockey) on, who knows him really well. He ticks a lot of boxes, but it is a two-year-old race and a lot can happen. “The other two have performed really well. Out Of The Blue was a bit stiff at Wellington but he has travelled back well and the more you throw at him the more he thrives. “Zaharias didn’t have a lot of luck on the 11th (of January when third at Ellerslie) he was trapped wide and got a bit keen, so the blinkers come off. His work with Kinnaird on Tuesday here (Matamata) on the course proper was really good. “It is a very competitive field and it’s hard to split all the different form lines, but I am very excited.” The stable will also have a strong representation in the $1.5 million Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m), with Group One winner La Dorada and Group Two performer He Who Dares taking on a strong line-up, including the well-fancied Well Written. “Well Written is the benchmark and a deserved short-priced favourite, but it was fantastic to see La Dorada bounce back to form at Wellington (when winning the Gr.2 Levin Classic, 1400m) and she is another one that has gone the right way. She has travelled home and hasn’t missed a beat. “He Who Dares showed he is up to the mark in the Auckland Guineas (Gr.2, 1400m) and pushed Well Written close. The mile at Ellerslie looks ideal and he is another that ticks a lot of boxes. “They have both got nice gates and a good positive racing style.” There will be plenty on the line for the pair, who present as two logical candidates for the $4 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) in March, with Te Akau Racing being a slot holder. “We think they are both really nice NZB Kiwi horses. La Dorada is a Karaka Millions winner at Ellerslie and the 1500m looks ideal for her,” Bergerson said. “The same with He Who Dares, he has gone two real cracker races there at Ellerslie and had a bit of a blip in the Sistema (Gr.1, 1200m) but still ran really well. 1500m looks ideal and he just continues to get better and better. “If they were to get slots, I am very confident they would be competitive. Hopefully they can both put their best foot forward on Saturday.” One stable runner who has already been assured of a start in the NZB Kiwi is Group One performer Belle Cheval, who will be one of five runners for Te Akau in the Gr.2 Cambridge Stud Almanzor Trophy (1200m). “She is a really exciting filly. She has only had three starts and she has run third in a (NZ) 1000 Guineas (Gr.1, 1600m),” Bergerson said. “We think that she is very classy and she is only going to continue to improve. “I am stoked for David (Archer), Diane (Wright) and the team there and very privileged to be training a filly like her for them. “Saturday we think is short of her best, but we think she has the talent and class to be very competitive.” She will be met on Saturday by stablemates King’s English, In Haste, To Bravery Born and Drops Of God. “King’s English continues to get better and better and his win was really good at Ellerslie on Sunday and he has gone the right way,” Bergerson said. “In Haste had a good freshen-up and trialled well in a Group and Listed trial. She just peaked on her run but has taken good improvement. “To Bravery Born had a quiet trial. The fresher the better seems to be his formula and he has drawn a nice gate (1). “It is hard to fault Drops Of God’s form line. She is still quite raw and does a little bit wrong and gets a bit keen, but it should be a high-pressure race and if she is to have luck from that barrier (13), we think she is more than capable.” Bergerson is also excited about the prospects of Coolmore’s Espionage in the Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m), having finished third in his New Zealand debut over 1200m at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day. “He has been very straight forward. He hasn’t missed a beat since coming over from Australia,” Bergerson said. “His run on New Year’s Day was good and if he had drawn a gate that day he would have gone very close to winning. “We took him up to Ellerslie in between times for a gallop last Thursday and his work has been good. He has a nice gate (6), which gives us options. “It is a competitive field and he has got to take that step back up to Group One quality here in New Zealand. He goes in in really good order and certainly deserves his chance.” While Ellerslie will be the focal point on Saturday, Te Akau will also be chasing stakes glory at New Plymouth and Riccarton. In Taranaki, the stable will be represented by Stella Ma Bella and She Suits Herself in the Listed Grangewilliam Stud Oaks Prelude (1800m), and last-start Taupo Cup (2000m) winner What You Wish For in the Gr.3 Denis Wheeler Earthmoving Taranaki Cup (1800m). “The two fillies at New Plymouth, it is just dependent on the weather with them,” Bergerson said. “She Suits Herself is still a maidener but showed at Te Aroha she can cope with rain-affected going. “Stella Ma Bella just didn’t pull up 100 percent following the Ellerslie disappointment but has bounced back really well, her work has been good leading in. We gave her a trial in-between times just to check everything is okay and she trialled nicely. There is a little bit of a query on track conditions with her, but this is her chance at black-type. “What You Wish For is another one that is a query around the weather, but he bounced back really well into form in the Taupo Cup. 1800m at set weights and penalties really suits. He is a very talented galloper on his day and is more than capable.” The stable’s Riccarton barn is also keen to get in on the stakes racing action, with Trobriand tackling the Listed Speight’s Timaru Stakes (1200m) at the Christchurch track. “It is rain-affected going down there as well but he produced a really good performance during Cup Week on rain-affected going,” Bergerson said. “It was a bit of a headscratcher last time at Trentham (when eighth over 1200m). The visor blinkers go on, he sneaks in with 53kg and he looks a live chance.” Te Akau head into the weekend in winning form, having recorded a double on their home track of Matamata on Friday courtesy of Born To Be Royal and Cease And Desist, with both three-year-olds in line for Classic targets. “It is always nice to have a couple of winners on your home track,” Bergerson said. “We thought Born To Be Royal would have broken maidens before today. She is a very talented filly that has been running in some really good races and it’s good to see her finally break maidens. Hopefully she can get a bit of confidence from that and we can continue to build towards the New Zealand Oaks (Gr.1, 2400m) in the middle of February. “I think Cease And Desist is a nice progressive type. His racing manners let him down a bit early and he disappointed on debut as a colt and we gave him a big break and the team at home have done a really good job with him. “He is slowly learning what it is all about. He was really good today. He still wanted to get a little bit on the bridle and at the top of the straight I thought he was no chance, but he really picked up and kept grinding away. “He should take some good confidence from that and potentially he could end up in a Derby (Gr.1, 2400m) in early March if he continues to settle and continues to progress. We will take it one step at a time and see how he comes through this.” View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
Some of the most respected names in the New Zealand thoroughbred industry will be out in force at Karaka over the next few days during the milestone 100th edition of the National Yearling Sale. NZB’s annual showpiece gets underway with the Karaka Millions twilight race meeting at Ellerslie on Saturday, followed by Book 1 on Sunday and Monday, Book 2 on Tuesday and the inaugural Karaka Summer Sale on Thursday. Vendors have embraced the significance of this occasion, including Cambridge Stud, who will offer their yearlings exclusively at Karaka this season. “Sir Brendan and Lady Jo Lindsay made that decision a fair way out from the sale, and I think it’s very fitting that Cambridge Stud supports the sale 100percent in its 100th year,” the stud’s sales and nominations manager Scott Calder said. “The history of the National Sale, NZB and Cambridge Stud are very much intertwined, and there have been numerous highlights that Cambridge Stud has been a part of – particularly in the Sir Patrick and Lady Hogan era. We’d love to carry on that great legacy.” This year also marks the 50th anniversary of Cambridge Stud, which was established by Sir Patrick and Lady Hogan in 1976. Cambridge Stud will offer 70 yearlings during Karaka 2026, and the team’s excitement has only grown in the lead-up to the sale on the strength of an outstanding run of form by their stallions. First-season sire Sword Of State has emerged as a budding star with the likes of Bjorn Baker’s unbeaten colt Warwoven and the Ben, Will and JD Hayes-trained Torture, who won the Listed Debutant Stakes (1000m) in October and will contest Saturday’s Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m). Almanzor, meanwhile, has sired four individual Group winners in New Zealand since November 22, including First Five in the Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m). “The timing has been very good in that respect,” Calder said. “Almanzor has had a fantastic run, and I think Sword Of State is up near the top of the list in terms of stallions that people are coming to the sale to try to buy yearlings by. “Hello Youmzain has had a good summer as well and will be strongly represented on Karaka Millions night on the eve of the sale. All of those things bode well for our draft, because those three stallions make up a large chunk of the 70 yearlings we’re offering. “Yesterday (Wednesday) was a bit of a washout, the rain didn’t help at all, but everyone’s got stuck in once the weather cleared today. There seems to be a lot of buoyancy around the sale grounds. “The sense of occasion certainly adds to it this year, being the 100th anniversary. Hopefully it all combines to create a strong market and the horses will sell well.” An obvious headline act in the Cambridge Stud draft is Lot 513, the colt by Sword Of State out of the Shamardal mare Las Brisas. That makes him a half-brother to the four-time Group One winner and A$10 million earner Ceolwulf. His most recent elite-level triumph came in the Champions Mile (1600m) at Flemington after the catalogue went to print. Lot 513 Sword of State – La Birsas. Photo: Angelique Bridson “He’s a real drawcard when you look at his pedigree page on paper, and he’s the same when you see him in the flesh,” Calder said. “We’re really excited about him. He’s by the right stallion and out of the right dam, and he’s a horse we’re very fond of. “The early indications on the sale grounds are that there’s a lot of interest in him, so we’re really looking forward to seeing him go through the ring. “Another one we’re quite excited about is Lot 461, the filly by Spirit Of Boom out of Gracious Grey. She’s another one that we’ve been fortunate enough to have a significant pedigree update for. Her half-sister Kind Words has won twice since the catalogue went to print, including the Gr.3 Belle of the Turf Stakes (1600m). It’s a very current family and she’s one to keep an eye on. “But I think the strength of our draft is that it’s just a very even group of really nice horses that we’re hoping will have a lot of appeal for buyers.” Another vendor that will operate exclusively at Karaka 2026 is Trelawney Stud, whose famous history stretches back almost as far as the National Yearling Sale’s. The nursery was established by Seton Otway in the 1930s. “This is a great celebration for the whole industry, reaching 100 years, and Trelawney has played quite a big part in that,” Brent Taylor said. “They started selling yearlings at the sale in the early 1930s and have sold yearlings pretty much every year since then. That makes us certainly the longest-standing vendor still selling at the National Yearling Sale. “I myself was there for the first sale at Karaka in 1988, working for Cambridge Stud at the time. To see the complex develop, change and become a world-leading centre of excellence for breeding and results on the racetrack is something to be very proud of. “It’s fantastic to be a part of that history. We had our first sale at Trelawney in 1994 and have sold every year since then. “Trelawney has decided to dedicate 100 percent of our yearlings to Karaka this year. It’s a really good, strong line-up of horses. We’ve been inundated with interest in parades and it feels like the market is going to be strong. The vibe is good, so we’re all really pleased and looking forward to the sale.” Trelawney Stud has 17 yearlings catalogued for Book 1 of Karaka 2026, with another five entered for Book 2. “We have a couple of personal favourites, although they may not end up being the ones that make the most money,” Taylor said. “For us, it’s more about presenting horses that you like and you can see a future in. “The first of those favourites is Lot 94, the colt by Proisir out of Ruqqaya. It’s a special family that we’ve been heavily involved with, producing the likes of Ocean Park, Grunt and Zayydani, and he’s just a ripping colt. He’s one of my favourites on type. He’s a good mover and has great balance and temperament. Lot 94 Proisir x Ruqqaya. Photo: Angelique Bridson “And then there’s a Russian Revolution filly, Lot 203, who’s out of one of my favourite racemares in Two Illicit. She was an absolute star on the track for us – a very consistent and high-class performer. She’s given us a beautiful, beautiful filly to offer. Lot 203 Russian Revolution – Two Illicit. Photo: Angelique Bridson “It’s exciting to have a couple of really nice horses like that, but it’s a good-sized draft and I’m sure I’ve missed other horses that people will like more. “We’ve got a good draft, a good bunch of people at Karaka helping us out, and we’re looking forward to a busy few days.” The 2026 edition of the National Yearling Sale is a milestone in more ways than one for the respected vendor Curraghmore. “As well as being the 100th National Yearling Sale, it’s the 30th for NZB and the 30th national sale for Curraghmore as well,” Gordon Cunningham said. “It’s very special to have built up the history that we’ve had with this sale, and we’ve had highlights every year. “I was gifted a beautiful book this week with the top horse to come out of the sale each year for those 100 years. In our 30 years, we’ve had Fairway in 1998, who was a multiple Group One winner and the most successful horse from that year’s sale. Then a few years later we had Efficient, who won a Melbourne Cup and was the most successful graduate from his year’s sale. We’re very proud of that.” Curraghmore’s class of 2026 features 22 yearlings in the catalogue for Book 1, seven in Book 2 and two in the new Karaka Summer Sale. “I think we’ve got our usual sort of draft, with lots of really good prospects to become good racehorses,” Cunningham said. “The first couple of days here were quite testing with the weather, but the horses paraded very well for us and we were very proud of them. “It seems to me that the level of interest is consistent with other years. People always seem to be happy to come back to Karaka and come to see us, which we appreciate. “One of my favourite things about this year’s draft is that many of them are relatives to good horses that we’ve produced in the past. “An example of that is Lot 222, a full brother to Kovalica, who’s been a Group One winner and has earned more than A$4 million for Chris Waller. Lot 222 Ocean Park – Vitesse. Photo: Angelique Bridson “Lot 382 is a colt by Super Seth out of Distinctive Lass. That makes him a half-brother to five stakes winners including the Group One winner Kahma Lass. He’s also a half-brother to Drops Of God, who’s unbeaten in two starts and running in the Gr.3 Almanzor Trophy (1200m) on Saturday evening. Lot 382 Super Seth – Distinctive Lass Photo: Angelique Bridson “That meeting will also feature a horse that we sold last year, Torture, in the Karaka Millions 2YO. She was the first stakes winner for Sword Of State and we’re looking forward to cheering her on at Ellerslie. We had a half-sister by Proisir in our draft, but we unfortunately had to withdraw her because of a minor knock on her leg. “We’re offering a beautifully bred, good-looking colt by The Autumn Sun out of Infinite Wonder (Lot 485), along with a lovely filly by Ghaiyyath from On The Ball (Lot 23), bred by Bob Emery from one of his original families. “We have five yearlings by Satono Aladdin, including a filly out of Avisto (Lot 292). Avisto was one of Tavistock’s three stakes-winning two-year-olds. She was also his first winner, his first stakes winner, and then she produced Annavisto and credited Tavistock with his first stakes winner as a broodmare sire. This is a lovely filly. “Another one worth mentioning is a Too Darn Hot filly from Glory Bound (Lot 455), who placed in the Gr.2 Fillies’ Classic (2000m) and went on to be a Group placegetter in Australia. This is her first foal.” Waikato Stud, the leading vendors at Karaka in 10 of the last 12 years, again have both quantity and quality in a draft of 55 yearlings in Book 1 and 22 in Book 2. “The Karaka complex is second to none and a great place to work,” Mark Chittick said in an interview with NZB. “There have been many highlights in our time coming here and I couldn’t really single any out. “All of our drafts have been born at Waikato Stud and raised at Waikato Stud. We’re happy selling a horse for $150,000 to $200,000, there’s profit in that for us and it all mounts up. Just 12 months later, those horses can be in Australia and racing for $150,000 every Saturday. It’s a no-brainer to me. Lot 267 Super Seth – American Actress. Photo: Angelique Bridson “This year, with it being the 100th National Yearling Sale, that made it a big factor in us wanting to have a really good, strong draft that we’re extremely proud of. We try to do that every year, but certainly this year. “The amount of high-quality Super Seth yearlings that we’ve got in the draft is a real high point for us, and of course there are some lovely Savabeels – we all know about him. “The Ardrossans are another notable feature. People have to remember that he’s done what he’s done so far with very limited opportunities. He has a big crop of foals that are two-year-olds this season. Only two of those have gone to the track so far, and De Armas is a stakes winner and Butler Cabin has been Group Two placed, and they’re both in the Karaka Millions 2YO field. The rest of that crop are all coming through too. “There’s also Noverre, who always leaves lovely types. “It’s a really good draft. We’re hugely excited about Karaka every year, but certainly this year, being 100 years.” View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
Yulong Investments have furthered their position among New Zealand’s racing ranks this week with the purchase of eye-catching Gr.2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2000m) winner Ohope Wins (NZ) (Ocean Park). The Australian-based racing and breeding operation, owned by Zhang Yuesheng, has made a play for some of the country’s top three-year-old fillies this season, and they have been rewarded through the success of Group One winner Well Written, who will put her unbeaten record on the line in tomorrow’s $1.5 million TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) at Ellerslie. The Stephen Marsh-trained filly is a dominant favourite for the mile feature, as well as the $4 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) in March, and the purchase of Ohope Wins now gives Yulong a key hand in some looming Classic targets. Bred by Gartshore Bloodstock, Ohope Wins stormed home to capture the Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day, which catapulted her into joint favouritism for next month’s Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) and prominently in the TAB’s futures market for the Gr.1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m) on Champions Day. Trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott have welcomed Yulong onboard as new clients to their Matamata-based operation and are hoping they continue to invest in the New Zealand thoroughbred. “It is good to see them (Yulong) wanting to be a part of the racing down here as well and not just Australia,” O’Sullivan said. “Going forward we are hoping that they take a real interest in us here in New Zealand because it is going to give a lot of people great opportunities and the good thing is that we know our horses are very capable of holding their own at the highest level.” O’Sullivan said Ohope Wins will remain in their care for at least the next six weeks, and he is excited to tackle some Classic assignments with her. “She stamped herself as a staying three-year-old (when winning the Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes), she was very impressive,” he said. “She is progressive and she is only going to keep getting better. “She will stay here in New Zealand until after either the Oaks or Derby, we will just have to wait and see. All going well, she will be running in the New Zealand Oaks, that’s our plan.” Ohope Wins debuted her association with Yulong when carrying their silks in an 1100m Group and Listed trial at Matamata on Friday where she pleased O’Sullivan with her hit-out. “She trialled beautifully, I couldn’t be happier,” he said. Meanwhile, O’Sullivan is looking forward to heading to Ellerslie on Saturday where Wexford Stables will line-up a quintet of runners at the twilight meeting. “The fields are very strong and we have got five horses going there that we are happy with,” he said. “They are sound, they are well and we are going to have a crack.” The stable will have a two-pronged attack in the $1.04 million Gr.3 Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic (1600m) courtesy of Smart Love and Checkmate, and O’Sullivan is pleased with both horses heading into the race. Checkmate placed at the track on New Year’s Day when third in the Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m) and his trainers expect a similar performance, while Smart Love will be looking to bounce back to winning form, although O’Sullivan said the wet weather could negate her ace draw. “Checkmate races well at Ellerslie, he likes the track and he certainly hasn’t taken a step backwards (since the Rich Hill Mile),” O’Sullivan said. “We don’t know if it (draw) is an advantage or disadvantage (for Smart Love), we have just got to wait and see how it is riding on the night. She has the addition of blinkers to her gear and we can’t fault her, she looks great. She has come a long way in a very short time, but she is in good condition.” Group Three performer L’Aigle Noir will face a stiff task against a strong line-up in the Gr.3 Cambridge Stud Almanzor Trophy (1200m), and O’Sullivan said it will be a good learning experience for the lightly-raced three-year-old. “It is an exceptionally strong field, he is still learning his craft, but he is going to be a nice horse going forward,” he said. The stable will also be represented by debut winner Dashing Dixie in the $1 million TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) and Tristar in the HKJC World Pool Jo Giles Stakes (1400m). “This is a big step up for Dashing Dixie, she probably lacks the experience of some of the others that she is going to be up against,” O’Sullivan said. “We didn’t want to treat this as her grand final, we have seen in enough years that a lot of horses after this race don’t seem to kick on quite as well as expected. We are just treating it as another race. “That field (Jo Giles Stakes) has come up a lot stronger than we anticipated, but Tristar is well and her work has been very sound. If the track has a bit of give in the ground, which no doubt it will, it will be a good assist to her.” Wexford will also head to New Plymouth on Saturday with a quartet of runners, including Clara Bow and Acer in the Listed Grangewilliam Stud Oaks Prelude (1800m), with the latter to be ridden by former stable employee Erin Leighton. “Erin has been a big part of Wexford for the last few years and it is great to have her onboard,” O’Sullivan said. View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
Saturday is shaping to be a busy day for Allan Sharrock, with stakes assignments both at home and away for the New Plymouth trainer. He will be represented at Ellerslie by his promising two-year-old Ka Ron (NZ) (Hello Youmzain) in the $1 million TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m), while he will have eight runners at his home meeting, including two stakes contenders. Hello Youmzain gelding Ka Ron has impressed in both of his starts to date, finishing runner-up behind subsequent Group Two winner and Karaka Millions favourite Kinnaird, and he filled the same position at Ellerslie last start when beaten by Wexford’s exciting filly Te Encuentro. Sharrock has been pleased with Ka Ron’s progression since that Boxing Day outing, and while disappointed with his outside barrier draw (15), the expected heavy rain could prove to be a blessing. “He is 100 percent sound, he has ticked all the boxes, so other than the draw we are quite happy with where we are,” Sharrock said. “They are talking quite a bit of rain, whether it eases enough, but it might play out, so we could be in the right place. “He is a genuine racehorse. He was probably entitled to win his first start and it was the favourite (Kinnaird) for the race (Karaka Millions) that won that. I think we are better than a rough chance.” Back at home, Sharrock will line-up in-form mare Bridal Train in the Gr.3 Denis Wheeler Earthmoving Taranaki Cup (1800m). The daughter of U S Navy Flag has won two of her last three starts and will carry just 53kg this weekend when she takes on multiple Group One winner El Vencedor (59kg). With the track rated a Heavy9 on Friday morning, and more rain forecast, it could lighten the field, and while he isn’t overly enamoured with the wet conditions, Sharrock holds no fears for them with his mare. “She is flying, she is going really well,” Sharrock said. “Whether he (El Vencedor) runs, I don’t think they are that happy with the conditions, I would probably like a little bit better too. We have got 53 (kilos) and I think she is a good each way play in that race.” Sharrock will also be represented in the meeting’s other stakes contest, the Listed Grangewilliam Oaks Prelude (1800m), with Kingsbrook Diva. The Maurice filly has made quite the impression on Sharrock at home and he is hoping she can bring that form to raceday this weekend. “I am surprised she is still a maidener, she is a very good galloper,” Sharrock said. “We are still trying to work her out. We have put blinkers on her and she wouldn’t be the roughest chance in that race.” Earlier on the card, Sharrock will have a two-pronged attack in the Warner Construction LTD Open 1400 courtesy of Loch In Ora and Sindee, with both mares in line for a tilt at stakes level next month. “Both are heading towards the Wairarapa Breeders’ Stakes (Listed, 1600m) and both are racing well,” Sharrock said. “It is hard to split the two of them, I would like the track to improve slightly for them too. It is a funny weather pattern at the moment, you wouldn’t know what is going on.” Sharrock is also excited about the prospects of Komocean in the Platinum Homes 1200m, with the mare having won three of her four starts to date, while he believes Belle Tribute can bounce back in the Hirepool New Plymouth 1600. “Komocean is a very good mare,” Sharrock said. “She will cope with the conditions and she won first-up pretty authoritatively, I expect her to be hard to beat. “Belle Tribute was very unlucky at Wellington last Saturday and she will take a lot of beating with three kilos off at home.” View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
First-time travellers Arkansaw Kid and Torture (NZ) (Sword Of State) will fly the Lindsay Park flag at Ellerslie with a third member of the party to be on hand for the defence of a stable title early next month. The former will step out in Saturday’s Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m) while the Hayes brothers will have another crack at the TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m), this time with stakes-winning filly Torture. To be ridden by Opie Bosson, double millionaire sprinter Arkansaw Kid booked his berth across the Tasman with victory in the Gr.2 Bobbie Lewis (1200m) followed by consecutive placings in the Meteorite (1200m) and Supernova (1400m). “He has a great record, he’s very competitive and this preparation he’s only been out of the top three once,” said Ben Hayes, who trains with siblings Will and JD. “He loves wet tracks so that will be in his favour as well. “Jigsaw beat him fair and square the other day and Alabama Lass has been running to very high levels so we really respect those horses, but a wet track would bring our one into it a bit more.” Provided he runs up to expectations, Arkansaw Kid will then front up in the Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa on February 7. “Torture will go home, but Arkansas will probably stick around and Here To Shock will run in the BCD again,” Hayes said. The son of Shocking romped home away with the 2024 edition of the race, beating fellow Australian-trained contender Bosustow by four lengths with high-class colt Savaglee third. “He’s fantastic, he travelled well and he’s absolutely thriving. He’s a pretty straight forward horse and is very genuine,” Hayes said. Meanwhile, Torture will take aim at the Karaka Millions and the second youngster by Cambridge Stud shuttle stallion Helo Youmzain to do so for Lindsay Park following Hello Romeo’s midfield finish in 2025. “She is a little bit better than the one we brought over last year, she’s a stakes winner and with Hello Romeo we questioned whether he quite ran a strong 1200m,” Hayes said. “We’re not worried about that at all with her and she’s got a lot more quality than he had at the same time. “We’re very happy with her and she’s spot on to run a nice race from a good barrier (five).” Torture was a debut winner of the Listed Debutant Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield and then came from the back for fourth in the Geelong Diamond (1100m). “We had a young apprentice on, and she just lost a little bit of contact with the field riding her quietly and her work through the line was really good,” Hayes said. “She came through the run in excellent order and travelled over very well. They’ve been staying with Lance (Noble) at Brendan and Jo Lindsay’s place, and they’ve all been very kind to us.” View the full article
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