Go Racing and Thoroughbred News
Classic goals for Go Racing’s Karaka Million pair
Waimoku Falls will contest the Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie on Saturday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)
Stephen McKee and Go Racing will combine to have two runners in the Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie on Saturday and they has Classic ambitions for both horses.
Lord Ardmore finished fourth in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) in November and subsequently had the same result at Tauranga earlier this month after being held up in the straight.
McKee has been pleased with his progress since then and he is looking forward to him going around in the rich feature on Saturday.
“He is a horse who has really continued to improve. He is on the upward spiral,” McKee said.
“He went a great race at Riccarton without too much luck and he had a freshen-up after that run and went to Tauranga. He was unlucky not to win that day, he got held up in the running and he has just continued to thrive and improve.
“He has got enough early speed to take a good position and he really finishes strongly.”
The Gr.1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby (2400m) remains his ultimate goal at Ellerslie in March.
“Safely through this one he will have one run at either Waikato or the Avondale Guineas, heading into the Derby,” he said.
Lord Ardmore will be joined on Saturday by stablemate Waimoku Falls.
The daughter of Sacred Falls finished 12th in the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) in November, and has followed a similar line to Lord Ardmore, resuming at Ruakaka earlier this month where she dead-heated for second.
“She is a filly with stacks of ability,” McKee said. “She is slightly immature at this stage, but the ability is certainly there and I think within the next 12 to 24 months you will see a really good filly.
“She had 10 days out on the way home (from Christchurch) and she has just had a prep run at Ruakaka. She went well and it looked like the run will really improve her, and she has trained on nicely.”
Nominated for both the New Zealand Derby and Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m), McKee said her run this weekend will dictate which path she takes.
“We’re a little bit guarded by what we see on Saturday,” he said. “She is nominated for the Derby and the Oaks. As long as she can take the racing, she will head towards one of those two Classics.”
Both three-year-olds are raced by Go Racing and were purchased from Karaka by Principal Albert Bosma. He went to $65,000 to secure Lord Ardmore out of The Oaks Stud’s draft, and $140,000 to secure Waimoku Falls out of Waikato Stud’s draft. -NZ Racing Desk
Euro import scores deserved win
Mubariz makes easy work of his rivals at Warwick Farm on Wednesday. Photo: bradleyphotos.com.au
Wet conditions didn’t bother European import Mubariz who cruised to a comfortable two and a half length victory at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
The son of Dansili jumped well and settled in the trail off the pacemakers. He travelled nicely before jockey Tommy Berry made his move with 600m to go. Mubariz hit the front coming out of the turn, racing away to post a convincing win in the 1600m contest, banking the lion’s share of the A$49,000 on offer.
“It was an exciting win from him today, it was well deserved.” Berry said. “There obviously wasn’t the speed in the race I was hoping for though they did allow us to creep forward on the bridle and I had a lap full of horse on that ground and it did give him a lot of confidence.
“He is a horse that I think has a lot of upside, he feels like he might be able to go a little bit further now too that he is stronger. It was nice to get a win on the board for him.”
Purchased for 40,000 Guineas at the 2019 Tattersals Horses In Training Sale, Mubariz has now recorded two wins and two placings since arriving in Australia.
The Chris Waller-trained five-year-old has several options ahead of him including backing up at Warwick Farm in a week over the same distance in a A$50,000 BM72 or stepping up in distance at Canterbury in a fortnight for a $50,000 1900m contest.
Mubariz is just one of Go Racing’s successful European imports who are racing successfully in Australia for good prizemoney.
They have also been represented by Alward who has now won in excess of NZ$800,000, Raqeeq who is fast approaching NZ$400,000, Sir Pippin who has won in excess of NZ$300,000 and Skyman who has won two of his four starts since landing in Australia.
