Karaka Graduates Stakes Quinella

Media Release - Sunday March 3

Qiji Express NZ) (Shamexpress) and She's a Thief (NZ) (Showcasing) cost just $57,500 between them at Karaka in 2017, but they fought out the finish in a high-quality running of the $60,000 Listed Mufhasa FastTrack Stakes (1300m) at Ellerslie on Saturday.

Qiji ExpressThe Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained Qiji Express (image Trish Dunnell) capitalised on a ground-saving inside ride from Craig Grylls, kicking away in the straight and holding out the late run of She's a Thief by a length and a quarter.

Qiji Express has now had 10 starts for three wins, three placings and $92,500 in stakes for owners Horse Feng Bloodstock Ltd Fudong Niu. He has earned more than three times his $27,500 purchase price at the 2017 Select Sale.

This was his first black-type win, having previously placed in the Group 2 Sarten Memorial (1400m) and the Listed Castletown Stakes (1200m).

"It was a very good win today," Baker said. "He's been working well and we gave him a jumpout the other week at Cambridge and it was a very strong heat and he ran well.

Advertisement

"We thought he'd go pretty well fresh and he got a good barrier and Craig rode him a treat."

Runner-up She's a Thief was a $30,000 purchase at the 2017 Festival Sale and has earned $122,100 in her nine-start career.

Vendor Lyndhurst Farm
Purchaser Horse Feng Bloodstock / Mr Y Niu & F Niu
Breeding Shamexpress – Miss Krisdel
Sale Lot 873, 2017 Select Sale, $27,500
Bred by Mrs D A Hurley-Smith & Ms G E Kenny
Advertisment
More Reading...
Widden Stud Sell $775,000 Too Darn Hot Colt
Widely tipped as a likely sale-topper at the Inglis Australian Weanling Sale, the Widden Stud consigned Too Darn Hot (GB) colt from Enbihaar did not disappoint when fetching $775,000.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday May 6
Here is the full list of 30 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Sires With Winners - Monday May 5
Here is the full list of 20 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Bargain Shamexpress Filly Salutes
Ruakaka galloper Diva Express proved too swift for her two-year-old rivals when she took out the NZB Insurance Pearl Series Race (1200m) at Avondale on Thursday.
One to Watch – Kembla
Group I ATC Champagne Stakes winner Nepotism is not the only talented two year-old winner by Brutal this season that was bred and sold by Gilgai Farm.
$650,000 Stay Inside Filly Sets New Record at Inglis Weanling Sale
A new record price for the Australian Weanling Sale was set at Riverside today when a Stay Inside x Sheidel filly offered by Noorilim Park sold for $650,000.
Two Out of Three for Hard Press
New Zealand-bred three year-old Hard Press made it back-to-back wins when successful at Sandown on Wednesday over 1000m bringing a good pedigree update for his full brother headed to Karaka Book 1 in 2020.
First Season Highlights – These Guys Made an Impression
The Inglis Australian Weanling Sale gave buyers the opportunity to have a first look at the progeny of a new crop of  first season sires and the big banger of the group duly produced the highest priced baby from this cohort of sires.
New Stakes-Winner for Shamexpress
Exciting young sire ShamExpress (O’Reilly) continued his golden run at the weekend with new 3YO stakes winner Qiji Express lifting his first-crop stakes winners to runners ratio to an impressive 10,3%.
Records Tumble at Huge Australian Weanling Sale
The most successful Inglis Australian Weanling Sale in history concluded at Riverside today with a record individual top price of $775,000 paid for a colt by Too Darn Hot (GB), a record gross and record average.