Half-Brother to Guns at Five at Karaka 2014

Half-Brother to Guns at Five at Karaka 2014

Consistent Cambridge stayer Guns at Five (NZ) (Duelled) gained another well-deserved stakes victory in the Listed $55,000 Gallagher Marton Cup (2200m) at Awapuni on Saturday adding further black-type to the pedigree page of his half-brother entered in the 2014 Karaka Select Sale.

GUNS AT FIVE Marton Cup
Guns at Five (NZ) winning the Listed Gallagher Marton Cup at Awapuni on Saturday.

Bradbury Park’s Casey & Michelle Dando bred the gelding and will offer the half-brother by Perfectly Ready at Lot 918 in two weeks’ time.

Trained by Chris Wood at Cambridge, Guns at Five has been a model of consistency since winning the Listed Rotorua Plate early in this campaign, recording three placings in stakes company in the Feilding Cup, New Zealand Cup, and the Waikato Cup.

The six-year-old started as a close second favourite with punters and enjoyed an economical run from barrier 5, the son of Duelled proving too strong for the field as he drew away to win by two lengths over Smartly (NZ) (Fast ‘n’ Famous) with Figure Again (NZ) (Ishiguru) hanging on for third.

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Bred: C R & G J Dando Offered: Blandford Lodge Purchased: Mrs M C Harkema at New Zealand Bloodstock's 2008 National Weanling Sale for $12,000

The Way In to the Karaka Million

The famous colours of Bonecrusher are back in the winner’s circle and looking to claim some of New Zealand’s best races with Way In (NZ) (Thewayyouare) announcing herself as a major contender for the Karaka Million with victory in the $15,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance Pearl Series 2YO (1200m) on Saturday at Ellerslie.

The countdown to the New Zealand’s richest race – the $1m Karaka Million – is heating up with every runner in Saturday’s event looking to qualify for the esteemed race on 26 January.

The Shaune Ritchie trained filly was guaranteed a start in the Karaka Million before Saturday’s race but had not raced since a disappointing effort in the Listed Wentwood Grange Stakes at Te Rapa last month.

The filly by first season sire Thewayyouare jumped from barrier 7 in the 10-horse race and rider Danielle Johnson took Way In through a gap near the outside of the field in the straight to sprint away from the field. A spirited challenge from Riding Shotgun (NZ) (Iffraaj), who found a gap near the rails, made the race very close as the pair hit the line together.

After a long look at the photo finish by the judge, Way In was announced as the winner by the slenderest of margins from Riding Shotgun with Coachella (NZ) (Mastercraftsman) finishing third a further length away.

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Bred: N D Landers Offered: Bradbury Park Purchased: Shaune Ritchie at New Zealand Bloodstock's 2013 Karaka Select Sale for $52,500

Magic in Store for 2014 Karaka 3YO Mile

The $100,000 Karaka 3YO Mile at the Karaka Million Twilight Meeting is set to attract one of New Zealand’s leading fillies with Spellbinder (NZ) (O’Reilly) set to take her place in the field after a resounding victory in the $17,500 Rating 75 Pegasus Equine 1200 on Saturday at Ellerslie.

Spellbinder trish
Spellbinder (NZ) is two from two at Ellerslie. Photo courtesy of Trish Dunell.

The Jason Bridgman trained filly was having her first start since finishing third in the Group 1 New Zealand Bloodstock 1000 Guineas at Riccarton in November behind stablemate and Filly of the Year Series leader Costa Viva (Encosta de Lago) and Group 1 Railway Handicap winner Bounding (Lonhro).

The filly by last season’s Champion Sire O’Reilly showed her class in the straight as she picked up the leaders and drew away for a comprehensive victory by a length-and-a-half with her ears pricked on the line over La Valeta (NZ) (Falkirk).

“She was in a fresh state, we hadn’t done much with her since Riccarton, but she showed what a class act she is winning quite convincingly,” stated Bridgman.

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