Karaka Bargain Buy Wins Last Kiwi Stakes of the Season

Media Release - Saturday July 28

Local Awapuni galloper Atenartin proved too good for his age group compatriots when he led all the way to take out the final black-type feature of the season, the Listed Courtesy Ford Ryder Stakes (1200m).

Atenartin - Race ImagesHandled superbly by apprentice Danielle Hirini, the Showcasing youngster bounced nicely from a mid-field barrier to take up the running. Allowed to stride clear approaching the home turn by Hirini, Atenartin quickly put a space between himself and the chasing pack. 

Steered to the middle of the track for better footing the gelding never looked like stopping as he charged away to defeat Cambridge visitor Mexican Tycoon who was bidding to give the Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman stable their 21ststakes winner for the New Zealand season.

Race favourite Tutta La Classe gave her backers plenty of hope when she loomed as a likely prospect at the top of the straight but only battled in the closing stages to finish a well beaten third.

Successful when defeating race rivals Tutta La Classe and Notabadharada at outside odds on the track three weeks earlier, Atenartin lived up to trainer Matthew Eales' expectations with his winning performance.

"I could see he was travelling quite well and I knew he could handle the track, so I was quite confident," he said.

Advertisement

"I knew he had improved off his last run as he didn't have the perfect prep, yet he was still a dominant winner.

"He had really improved in three weeks, so I thought that would count for a lot today.

"To get a black-type win on his home track is great for the owners."

Bred by Rich Hill Thoroughbreds, Atenartin is from the unraced O'Reilly mare Fudge. He was a $7,000 purchase for Eales from the Rich Hill Stud draft during the Festival session of the 2017 National Yearling Sale at Karaka. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Sires Pack Profitable Punch at Weanling Sale
There are many members of New Zealand’s stallion ranks whose progenies racetrack results far exceed their service fee.  Next month’s NZB National Weanling Sale at Karaka is an ideal opportunity for traders and end users to secure the progeny of these creditable sires.
Showcasing to Continue Karaka Million Dominance
Taroni, an impressive 2YO winner at Ellerslie on Boxing Day in the colours of Cambridge Stud's Brendan and Jo Lindsay, joins Group two-winner PLAY THAT SONG, stakes performer Ohio Showgirl and Australian-based Disco Lights to give former Haunui Farm stallion Showcasing (GB) (Oasis Dream) four of the top twelve qualifiers as the countdown to the Karaka Million gets underway in earnest
Day One a Breeze for Quality 2YO's
Day One of the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale Breeze Ups saw 188 two-year-olds charge down the final straight of Te Rapa Racecourse.
Juvenile Trial Watch - Rosehill
Trials this morning at Rosehill were run on a heavy 9 so horses were well held together and not asked for too much, but there were still a couple of intriguing unraced heat winners by Extreme Choice and Justify (USA), plus we got another look at the $1.4million Wootton Bassett (GB) colt from Sunlight.
Debut Winner for King’s Legacy
King’s Legacy posted a seventh first crop winner on Friday with a fast finishing debut victory at Goulburn for talented gelding Nothing But Net.
Showcasing Colt was Ciaron's Pick Of The Sale
A strong resemblance to Group1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) winner Jameka led to the first $500,000 sale at Karaka on Sunday.
Verry Exciting Weekend Looms
New Zealand horseman Nicholas Bishara will cross the Tasman this weekend to watch his filly Belle Detelle, a three-quarter sister to his ill-fated 11-time Group One Verry Elleegant, contest the Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m).
$1,100 Gavelhouse Purchase a Christmas winner
Jenna Mahoney’s $1,000 gavelhouse.com weanling buy Opalescence (NZ) (Showcasing) built on her promising debut second last month to go one better at Awapuni on Saturday.
Little Avondale’s Weanlings Follow Successful Footsteps
Graduates of Little Avondale Stud’s drafts at the NZB National Weanling Sale have a proud record of racetrack success, and stud principal Sam Williams believes his class of 2025 compares favourably with previous years.
King’s Legacy Filly Wins by Three
The Lindsay Park team produced an impressive juvenile winner at Pakenham on Thursday evening with King’s Legacy filly Bella Pietra winning as she pleased.