Sun Shining on Kiwi Breeders

Media Release - Tuesday April 23

Progressive filly Moonlight Magic took a significant last-start step toward the goal of a third Group One winner for The Sunlight Trust with her breakthrough success at stakes level.

Moonlight Magic winning the Gr.3 Championship Stakes (2100m) at Ellerslie last Saturday.  Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)

The boutique Waikato operation of Murray and Marg Hardy and Paddy Preston bred and races the daughter of Almanzor, who deservedly triumphed in the Gr.3 Championship Stakes (2100m) last Saturday at Ellerslie off the back of a string of strong black-type performances.

Trained by Andrew Forsman, she had been a luckless fourth in the Gr.3 Manawatu Classic (2100m), a gallant sixth in the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m), fifth in the Gr.3 Sunline Vase (2100m) and third in the Listed Oaks Prelude (1800m).

“She showed us a lot earlier on and we had quite a lot of confidence in her and Andrew and his team have done a great job,” Murray Hardy said.

“In most of her runs she has been knocking on the door and it was just great to get that result, she hasn’t had a lot of luck in some of her big stakes races.”

Whether Moonlight Magic races on into her three-year-old campaign has yet to be decided.

“She has come home for a week and then we’ll get together with Andrew and decide what we do from here,” Hardy said.

“She has handled everything really well and we’ll just do what is best for her.”

Moonlight Magic is a daughter of the Encosta De Lago mare Japonica who is out of a half-sister to the three-time Group One winner Serenade Rose.

All four of Japonica’s foals to race have been successful and she has an unraced two-year-old by Belardo named Belardi.

Advertisement

“He is in work with Andrew and we’ve just weaned a Saxon Warrior colt off her and she’s in foal again to Almanzor,” Hardy said.

The Sunlight Trust previously savoured top-flight success with Gr.1 International Stakes (2000m) winner Veloce Bella and also bred High Chaparral’s Gr.1 Schweppes Oaks (2000m) winner Princess Jenni, who was sold through Phoenix Park’s draft at Karaka for $120,000.

“We bred and raced Veloce Bella and she’s our foundation mare and we bred Princess Jenni and she (Moonlight Magic) could potentially be the next one,” Hardy said.

“Veloce Bella has an Armory filly, we were wanting a filly from her, and we will retain her and she’s been a marvellous mare.”

A daughter of Volksraad, Veloce Bella has produced a quartet of winners including the Group performer Walking Flying.

“We’ve got around 12 mares and we are focussed on building a quality broodmare band,” Hardy said.

“We’ve got a property at Ngahinapouri and we agist the mares out for foaling and so on.

“The mares and foals come back here after they are mated and we wean here and carry the weanlings through and source them out for yearling preps if they’re going that way.

“We make the ultimate decisions, but we also use a couple of consultants as well.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Pony Racing Series Finals This Saturday
The excitement is building as the 2025 National Pony Racing Series Finals prepare to take centre stage at the Gold Coast Turf Club on Saturday, 7 June, showcasing the nation's most promising young riders and their ponies.
Brendan Lindsay honoured - Knights of the Cambridge Stud roundtable
The Cambridge Stud legacy continues to grow, with current co-principal Brendan Lindsay appointed a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the King's Birthday Honours for his services to business and philanthropy.
Almanzor Colt Wins G2 Italian Derby
Wootton Bassett sired the winner of the Group I Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) on Sunday in Camille Pissarro and then overnight his champion Cambridge Stud based son Almanzor (Fr) produced the winner of the Group II Derby Italiano (2200m).
Impressive First Winner for St Marks Basilica
Coolmore shuttler St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) was the 2021 European Horse of the Year and the son of Siyouni is on the board as a sire with his first winner after Rogue Supremacy scored an impressive debut victory.
Winx to Visit Too Darn Hot
World champion racehorse Winx is set for a new chapter in her stud career this spring with an announcement from her ownership group of Peter Tighe, Debbie Kepitis and Elizabeth Treweeke that Too Darn Hot (GB) is the chosen one.
Williams honoured with Damehood
Two thoroughbred industry stalwarts have been bestowed one of New Zealand’s highest honours in the King’s Birthday honour list, including Catriona Williams, who has been appointed a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to spinal cord injury research and equestrian sport.
Inglis Internship applications open
An opportunity to work with Australia’s most progressive thoroughbred auction house has become available through the renowned Inglis Internship program.
$1500 Weanling Becomes $525,000 Top Lot at MM National Yearling Finale
A colt by Harry Angel set a new benchmark in Australia for his sire and topped the final day of the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale when selling for $525,000 to conclude a hugely successful two weeks of sales.
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.
Sires With Winners - Monday June 2
Here is the full list of 40 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.