With the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale now just a couple of weeks away, a graduate of last year's Sale has starred on one of Australasian racing's greatest stages and her half-brother will be offered at the same sale this month.
Luvaluva(NZ) (Mastercraftsman), who was bought for $55,000 last November, came from the back to score an outstanding win in the A$300,000 Group 2 GH Mumm Wakeful Stakes (2000m) on Victoria Derby day at Flemington.
Ridden by Blake Shinn for expat New Zealand trainer John Sargent, Luvaluva was last around the home turn but stormed home with a withering late run to score by head.
"She's a big, strong filly," Sargent said. "She's shown it from the first trial I gave her as a two-year-old. We put her aside and aimed her for these two races this week."
Luvaluva will now line up in Thursday's Group 1 VRC Oaks (2500m), for which the favourite is another Karaka graduate –Aloisia(NZ) (Azamour), who has won the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) and the Group 2 Moonee Valley Vase (2040m) in her last two starts.
Luvaluva is raced by Seymour Bloodstock, Mr M L Connaghan, Mr B J Creith, Mr M B Trevaskis, Mr S C O'Brien, Mr A Gennusa and Mr S W Kennelly. She has now had six starts for two wins and a placing, earning A$217,650 in prizemoney.
The Wakeful Stakes result is part of a wonderful run of success for Kiwi breeder Christopher Grace and his wife Susanna. Home-bred mareShillelagh(NZ) (Savabeel) won Saturday's A$1 million Group 1 Kennedy Mile (1600m) at Flemington, and her full-sisterGrazia(NZ) (Savabeel) won last Saturday's Listed Spring Classic (2000m) at Riccarton.
They will offer Luvaluva's half-brother by Per Incanto (USA) at the 2017 NZB Ready to Run Sale as Lot 424.
Grace also bredHard Merchandize(NZ) (Burgundy), the winner of last month's Group 2 Hawke's Bay Guineas.
| Vendor | Surrey Farm |
| Purchaser | Mr JG Sargent (New South Wales) |
| Breeding | Mastercraftsman – Wansesingyee |
| Sale | Lot 24, 2016 Ready to Run Sale, $55,000 |
