Group One breeder excited by forthcoming Karaka offering

Media Release - Sunday February 13

As preparations ramp up for the 2022 edition of the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales at Karaka in March, Curraghmore principal Gordon Cunningham was once again celebrating the success of a past graduate of his Te Awamutu-based operation.

The popular Irishman bred outstanding Ocean Park mare Tofane who added a fourth Group One victory to her impressive career record when she took out the Gr.1 C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday afternoon.

Curraghmore’s Gordon Cunningham Photo Credit: Trish Dunell

Although initially entered in the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Select Yearling Sale, Cunningham elected to retain Tofane and send her to trainer Michael Moroney’s Matamata barn under the care of co-trainer Pam Gerard.

Tofane won an 820m trial at Te Teko before Ballymore Stable clients purchased her from Cunningham and she was transferred to Moroney’s Melbourne stable where she has gone on to win eight races from 27 starts and over A$3.39 million in prizemoney.

Cunningham is justifiably proud of the mare, who he admitted didn’t really stand out as a young horse until she began to mature. 

“She was a pretty typical  Ocean Park early on, but with maturity she developed with more obvious quality and the look of a good horse ,” he said.

“She has gone on to show she is an absolutely elite galloper, who always gives her best.

“I actually feel she is probably still a touch underrated as the field she beat yesterday was full of quality and she did it in confident fashion.

“She led all the way and was a sitting duck for the stalkers and nothing could touch her.

“I think she deserves all the accolades she gets.”

Tofane has been a star performer for Curraghmore - image Grant Courtney.

With the National Yearling Sales less than a month away, Cunningham and his Curraghmore team are hard at work putting the finishing touches on a draft that will see them present 23 individuals in the Book 1 sale and a further four in Book 2.

Having developed and sold numerous elite horses on his Te Awamutu farm, Cunningham is confident the depth of his current draft will continue the legacy the farm has created since it was established back in 1994.

“We have been hard at work for the past five weeks and have enjoyed probably the best November and December period that I can recall.

“I’m delighted with how our preparations have gone so far as we certainly have confidence in our draft right through each colt and each filly,” he said.

“Hopefully the rewards will be there for us, and all the vendors, and that bidding will be deservedly strong across the two catalogues.

Advertisement

Cunningham is loathe to single out individuals in his draft but does have a special mention for Lot 410, a filly by Fastnet Rock out of Galileo mare, Memories Of You which makes her a full sister to Gr.1 Australian Oaks (2400m) winner, Unforgotten and stakes placed filly Special Memories, who are both Curraghmore graduates.

“I guess our draft is headed by our full sister to Unforgotten Lot 410, who is a big prospect to run and is so well related. It is a privilege to be able to offer her for sale,” Cunningham said.

“We sold  both of her sisters in Unforgotten and Special Memories and I think this filly has a lot of similarities to Unforgotten although she may even be a tad more mature at this stage.

“She is typical of those good Fastnet Rock fillies and is bred on the Fastnet Rock, Galileo cross that has provided ten individual Group One winners worldwide.

“We also have an Impending colt (Lot 433) who is a half to Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) winner On The Bubbles and he looks a lot like his half-brother, while we are offering three US Navy Flag Colts (Lots 125, 138, 157) who I also like.

“We have bred a lot of mares to US Navy Flag over the last three years as he was a terrific racehorse and I have high hopes he can make his mark as a sire.”

Cunningham also believes Lot 615, a Pierro filly out of Strada Cavallo will be a popular choice for the buying bench but he cautions buyers not to overlook some of the lesser profile horses in both his and other vendors drafts.

“I think the best thing about our draft is that it is very even across the board,” he said.

“We certainly have some standouts on paper, but the beauty of Karaka is that any yearling offered here could go on to be your next stakes winner.

“A case in point for us is Tarzino filly Gypsy Goddess, who is unbeaten in four starts, but was passed in during the Book 2 sale in 2020.

“For whatever reason, we were unable to sell her but look at her now as she won a Group Three race at her last start and will be one of the most favoured fillies for races like the Australian Oaks (Gr.1, 2400m) during the Sydney autumn carnival.

“Obviously there are some horses that are pretty obvious in their potential, but others like her can sneak under the radar so I really hope that buyers participate at Karaka in force and enjoy the rewards that are there annually for everyone.” 

New Zealand bred horses are enjoying another fine season in Australia and following Tofane’s victory have now won 9 of the 32 Group One races (28%) conducted so far this term.

The New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales Series commences at Karaka on March 7 with the three-day Book 1 Sale followed by a further three days of selling with Book 2 taking place from March 10-12. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
A Passion That Lasts a Lifetime
A passion for pedigrees and thoroughbreds is often one that lasts a lifetime and so it has been for one of the co-breeders of Bravery, who contacted me this week following our earlier and very well read story on current 2YO star Cool Archie.
Inglis Ready 2 Race Entries Open
Entries for the Inglis Ready2Race Sale – Australasia’s most progressive 2YO Sale – are now open.
Blueblood Import - American-Bred Jillaroo Records First Win
Purchased at the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale by Ciaron Maher, the now 4yo mare Jillaroo (USA) (Curlin) initially started her racing career in the United States but after an Australian debut second at Caulfield in early May, recorded her maiden victory at Doomben.
$850,000 Extreme Choice Colt Equals MM National Yearling Record
A stunning colt by Extreme Choice equalled the all time record price at the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale on the Gold Coast today when he sold for $850,000.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday June 4
Here is the full list of 48 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
In-Demand Stallions Feature in NZB Weanling Sale Catalogue
The catalogue for the 2025 NZB National Weanling Sale features the progeny of a broad range of sires, from proven topliners to exciting up-and-comers as well as the brand-new kid on the block, Profondo.
Investing in Fillies Can Pay Big Dividends
We saw it earlier this month at Inglis Chairman’s Sale and we saw it again this week, purchasing yearling fillies that can perform to a high level has the potential to yield a big pay day in the sale ring, so let’s take a closer look.
Frosty Girl impressive on debut
The Chris Waller-trained Frosty Girl made the perfect start to her career when coming from last to land the Asahi Super Dry Plate (1300m) on debut at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
Wootton Bassett 2YOs on the March
Wootton Bassett’s star Northern Hemisphere two year-old Albert Einstein has been ruled out of Royal Ascot with a sprained joint that will require a few weeks off, but the red hot sire added two more talented debut winning juvenile colts at The Curragh overnight.
Breeding To Win - 2025 G1 Queensland Oaks
Unbeaten this preparation, Philia will be looking to emulate her half-sister Duais in winning the $1million Group I BRC Queensland Oaks (2200m) on Saturday, but a swarm of up and comers are nipping at her heels, so who are they?