Juvenile summary: La Dorada continues Karaka Millions dominance for Te Akau

Cover image courtesy of Kenton Wright (Race Images)

Te Akau hit the jackpot with eighth Karaka 2YO winner

It’s wouldn’t be Karaka Millions night without the tangerine and blue of the Te Akau Racing colours dominating the fields, and on Saturday night, the team scored an eighth winner in the Listed Karaka 2YO Million when Craig Williams steered La Dorada (NZ) (Super Seth) to victory. A winner in the spring and second in the G2 Eclipse S., the filly surged away from regular bridesmaid Vega For Luck (NZ) (Lucky Vega {Ire}) to win by 1.8l.

Co-trainer Mark Walker paid tribute to his co-trainer Sam Bergerson, who has been flying solo in New Zealand lately.

“This is terrific, and great for Sam as he has had to sustain a lot of pressure as I have been in Melbourne a lot,” Walker said. “Full credit to him and the team, this was great as it is good to win on the big stage.

“Also well done to David Ellis to buy eight individual winners of this race - if you go anywhere in the world and (look for) someone who has done that, you wouldn’t find it.

“She just paraded so well and she looked a picture. Craig Williams rode her a treat, and the staff have been working hard as it’s this time of the year where you have to raise the bar.

“It’s just fun being part of this night as it is the best night on the racing calendar.”

Bred by Chittick Investments and Waikato Stud, David Ellis CNZM (BAFNZ) paid NZ$190,000 to take La Dorada home from Waikato Stud’s draft at last year’s New Zealand Blood National Yearling Sale. She is the fourth foal from G2 Matamata Breeders' S. winner Gold Fever (NZ) (Savabeel), whose half-sister Gold Rush (NZ) (So You Think) won the same race before producing Listed Members' H. winner Gold Bullion (NZ) (Savabeel). Another half-sister, Listed Gimcrack S.-winning Calaverite (Lonhro) is the dam of G1 Caulfield Guineas victor Golden Mile.

Ellis also purchased Gold Fever as a yearling for $110,000 from Sledmere Stud's draft at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in 2014. From six starts, she won three races and placed in three more, including third in the G1 Sistema S. at her final start.

Gold Fever has a yearling colt by Tivaci (NZ), and was subsequently covered by Ardrossan. La Dorada is the fifth stakeswinner for Waikato Stud’s Super Seth, three of which have won stakes races as juveniles.

Like mother, like daughter for My Gladiola’s Preview performance at Sandown

Impeccably bred My Gladiola (I Am Invincible) debuted a winner at Sandown on Saturday in the G3 Blue Diamond Preview (fillies) for trainer John McArdle. The daughter of G2 Challenge S. winner Villa Verde (Not A Single Doubt) was a smart winner of both of her official jump-outs before debut, and downed Listed Maribyrnong Trial placegetter Price Tag (Zoustar) by 1.5l in her debut romp.

"Mum was a good horse and I remember seeing her at the races," McArdle said. "This girl is (also) grey obviously and she is very powerfully built, she is probably a combination of mum and her champion stallion I Am Invincible.

"She looked like a 2-year-old runner like her mother, and we thought she might have made a bit more money than she did and wondered if we'd have enough money.

"She's never been fully let down off the bridle, which normally I do, but she hasn't been let off the bridle, so it will be interesting to see if she does respond. She gives every indication there's more gears, but we don't know yet.

"Physically if she stood up and ran well, we'd certainly press forward, but mentally we will take it as it comes."

Gallery: Images courtesy of The Image Is Everything

Bred by Kia Ora Stud, My Gladiola was a $550,000 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale purchase for Redgum Racing last year. She is the fifth winner for her dam, who also placed in the G1 The Galaxy and finished fourth in Zoustar’s G1 Coolmore Stud S., and is a three-quarter-sister in blood to Widden Victoria's multiple Group-winning stallion Doubtland. Villa Verde’s filly by Pierro is heading to the Inglis Classic Sale next month as Lot 759 in Kia Ora’s draft, and the mare was covered by Ole Kirk in the spring.

Boom colt justifies Blue Diamond Preview favouritism

Twenty minutes after another offspring of Eureka Stud’s Spirit Of Boom was victorious for the Hayes team in Morphettville’s juvenile event, Shining Smile (Spirit Of Boom) justified his short starting price with a 1.75l win in the Listed Blue Diamond Preview (colts & geldings) at Sandown on Saturday. The colt collected spring placings in the Listed Maribyrnong Trial and G3 Maribyrnong Plate before breaking his maiden at Caulfield Heath in late November. To co-trainer Ben Hayes, the colt is the “ultimate professional”.

“He didn’t over race after he missed the start, which can sometimes happen when babies miss the start, and he went through his gears,” Hayes said. “We will look at the Blue Diamond Prelude, as it’s the tried-and-true way of getting there (to the G1 Blue Diamond). I’ll see how he pulls up first.”

Bred by Mr SB Seamer, Shining Smile was a $160,000 weanling purchase for Boomer Bloodstock (FBAA) from Robyn Wise’s Magic Millions Gold Coast National Weanling Sale draft in 2023. He is out of Nataya Rose (Canny Lad), a half-sister to Listed-placed Gold Anthem (Made Of Gold {USA}), dam of elite sire Starspangledbanner and third dam of G2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup winner and G1 Melbourne Cup placegetter Okita Soushi (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

Shining Smile’s half-brother by Zousain heads to the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale next month at Lot 470 in Wise’s draft, and he has a half-brother by Profiteer on the ground. Nataya Rose was served by Pinatubo (Ire) in October.

Gallery: Images courtesy of The Image Is Everything

Open Secret opens King’s city account at Royal Randwick

Open Secret (King’s Legacy) scored her sire his second winner at Randwick on Saturday morning, downing 11 other juveniles to win by 0.09l in the $160,000 opening race. The John Thompson-trained filly was a dominant trial winner over G3 Gimcrack S. winner Bel Merci (Extreme Choice) at her public debut earlier this month.

“From day one, she has shown she is a quality horse, and when I looked at her at the sales, I swear to God, I thought I was looking at a colt,” Thompson said.

“She trialled well and typically we would trial them again, but with the (R. Listed) Inglis (Millennium) race in two weeks time, we decided to come here as her second trial and hopefully get some prize money - and we got more than a bit.

“Class takes you a long way, but no way did I think she would lead today. I thought they would be too quick for her, but she has natural talent.”

Open Secret was offered by Middlebrook Valley Lodge at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale on behalf of breeders M & R Services, where she was bought for $150,000 by her trainer in conjunction with Boomer Bloodstock (FBAA). She is out of city-winning Vain Elaine (High Chaparral {Ire}), a half-sister to twice Listed-placed Smart Lady (Catbird). Vain Elaine has a colt at foot from the first crop of Newgate's In The Congo, and subsequently visited Pride Of Dubai in October.

Lindsay Park in high spirits with Boom filly’s debut win

Competitive in her three jump-outs, Spirit Of Boom daughter Gin Spirit pulled it all together for her raceday debut at Morphettville on Saturday. Trained by the Hayes team at Lindsay Park, the juvenile filly denied La Reine (King’s Legacy) to win by 1.45l in the $65,000 2YO Plate.

Bred by Bell River Thoroughbreds, R Hogno, and Brookava Tbs, Gin Spirit was a $210,000 purchase for her trainers out of Bell River Thoroughbreds’ Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft last year. She gives her dam Premeditated (Commands), a half-sister to dual Listed ATC Cup winner Malice (Teofilo {Ire}), a fourth winner.

Premeditated descends from the family of Listed Dulcify H. winner Moqueen (Uncle Mo {USA}), G2 Spirit of Boom Classic-winning Bittercreek (Snitzel), and four-time Group 1 winner Criterion. She has a yearling Tiger Of Malay filly, who passed in when offered at the Inglis Great Southern Sale as a weanling, and a full sister to Gin Spirit at foot. She was covered by Extreme Warrior in November.

First winner for Sandbar doubles up

After an impressive 5.71l at Coffs Harbour earlier in the month, Shaggy (Sandbar) showed he was the real deal when heading to the Sunshine Coast on Saturday, where he took out the $85,000 QTIS 2YO H. by 2.5l. Backing up a week after an unplaced effort in the $500,000 Magic Millions The Debut, Jaggery (Encryption) came second behind the Allen Kehoe-trained gelding.

Bred and retained by Kooringal Stud, Shaggy is the fifth winner for Encosta De Lago mare Moonrush, a full sister to South African stakeswinner Purely Atomic and a granddaughter of G1 Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp victress Imperial Beauty (USA) (Imperial Ballet {Ire}). Shaggy is a half-brother to six-time winner and Listed-placed Panzdown (Panzer Division). Kooringal Stud will offer Shaggy’s half-sister by Exceedance as Lot 446 at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale next month. Moonrush delivered a colt by Finance Tycoon in the spring.

A three-quarter-brother to G1 Golden Slipper S.-winning sire Farnan, Sandbar won the Listed Lonhro Plate and Listed The Rosebud before retiring to stud.

Japanese stallions quinella juvenile contest at Riccarton

There were international bloodlines to the fore in the $40,000 2-year-old race at Riccarton on Saturday, with Zelia (Fierce Impact {Jpn}) just edging out Best Rose (Maurice {Jpn}) by 0.2l to win. The David Walsh-trained filly was returning to the races for the first time since her debut in October, where she was galloped on.

Bred by Mystery Downs, Zelia was purchased as a weanling for $11,000 at the Inglis Australian Weanling Sale by J Corcoran from Fairview Park Stud’s draft. She was subsequently withdrawn from Grangewilliam Stud’s draft at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale last year, and is raced in a syndicate headed by Corcoran and her trainer. She is the first winner for Kakariko Village (NZ) (Shooting To Win), a half-sister to G1 Levin Classic winner Bonham (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}). Kakariko Village has a yearling full sister to Zelia yet to appear in a sale’s catalogue. Her Bruckner foal died at birth in the spring, and she subsequently revisited Fierce Impact (Jpn).

Zelia is the first winner - and first runner - for Lovatsville's Fierce Impact, a three-time Group 1-winning son of Deep Impact (Jpn).

Da Generals Son scores on debut at Ascot

Da Generals Son (Snippetson) debuted a winner at Ascot in the opening race, the $80,000 Magic Millions Plate, beating the starting favourite Girls On Fire (Better Than Ready) by 0.2l. Trained by David Harrison, the 2-year-old colt was a winner of his second trial earlier this month prior to Saturday’s start.

Gallery: Images courtesy of Western Racepix

Bred by Scenic Lodge Thoroughbred Stud, Da Generals Son was a $20,000 purchase at the Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale for Bridge Patrol Lodge. He is the second living foal, and second winner, from juvenile winning General Mu (Snitzel), a daughter of Listed St Leger winner Imaginaire (Fusaichi Pegasus {USA}), herself a daughter of G1 WATC Derby victress Beaux Art (Nomrood {USA}). General Mu has a yearling colt by Universal Ruler, who has yet to appear in a sales catalogue, and delivered a filly by the Scenic Lodge resident in the spring, before visiting former Godolphin galloper and dual Group 3 winner Ingratiating.