Since the beginning of November, elite races across New Zealand, Australia and Asia have delivered a series of major pedigree updates to the catalogues for Books 1, 2 and 3 of Karaka 2020.
Most notably, the catalogues feature three half-brothers to recent Group One winners.
Lot 86 is a half-brother to New Zealand’s superstar mare Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands), who lifted her tally of Group One victories to 10 with a brilliant performance in the Group One Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) at Flemington in early November. She also finished second in the Group One Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) the following week.
Lot 145 is a half-brother to Julius (NZ) (Swiss Ace), who capped a remarkable comeback from serious injury with a brilliant win in the Group One Sistema Railway (1200m) at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day.
Lot 336 is a half-brother to the Group One New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) winner Loire (NZ) (Redoute’s Choice), who also placed at Group Three level last week in the Desert Gold Stakes (1600m). Loire is the second Group One winner out of the dam, Syrah (NZ) (Traditionally), who had previously produced the Group One Thorndon Mile (1600m) winner A Touch of Ruby (NZ) (Pins).
Another three yearlings set to go through the ring in Karaka 2020 are half or full-siblings to recent Group One placegetters.
Lot 139 is a full-sister to Harlech (NZ) (Darci Brahma), who has finished second in both the Group One New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) and the Group One Levin Classic (1600m). He looms as one of the main threats to star filly Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel) in Saturday’s $1m Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie.
Lot 497 is a half-brother to Sherwood Forest (Fastnet Rock), who finished just behind Harlech in third place in the Group One New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m).
Lot 801 is a half-sister to Yearn (NZ) (Savabeel), who has been a consistent big-race performer in recent weeks. As well as winning the Group Two Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m), she has placed in the Group One Thorndon Mile (1600m) and Group Two Rich Hill Mile (1600m).
Meanwhile, Lot 385 comes from the same family as Vow And Declare (Declaration of War), who repelled the European raiders for a brilliant victory in the Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington in early November.
Lots 1, 5, 49, 84, 250, 368 and 1112 all come from the same family as New Zealand’s boom three-year-old Catalyst (NZ) (Darci Brahma), who completed a perfect spring campaign with victory in the Group One New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) in November.
Lots 76 and 671 come from a massively in-form family. They are both out of siblings to the stakes winner Weaponry (NZ) (Declaration of War), who has won another two races since the catalogue went to print. Meanwhile, close relative Loving Gaby (I Am Invincible) has added a second placing in the Group One VRC Sprint Classic (1200m) to her brilliant win in the Group One Manikato Stakes (1200m) earlier in the spring. Two other close relatives, Undefeated (Shamus Award) and Still So Cute (NZ) (Thewayyouare), have scored recent wins in Hong Kong and Macau respectively.
Lot 78 is from the same family as Wyndspelle (NZ) (Iffraaj), whose last two starts have produced a win in the Group One Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) and a close second placing in the Group One Thorndon Mile (1600m).
Lot 323 comes from the same family as Aethero (Sebring), who has starred in recent starts with a win in the Group Two Jockey Club Sprint (1200m) and a third placing in the Group One Hong Kong Sprint (1200m).
Lot 452 is a half-brother to Lilikoi (NZ) (Charm Spirit), who won the Group Three Eulogy Stakes (1600m) and placed in the Group Two Royal Stakes (2000m).
Lot 574 is a full-brother to Kiwi Ida (Squamosa), who collected the 13th win of her prolific career in last month’s Group Two Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m). She runs in Saturday’s Group Two Westbury Classic (1400m) at Ellerslie.
Lot 606 is a half-sister to Scorpz(NZ) (Charm Spirit), who has scored back-to-back stakes wins win the Group Three Wellington Stakes (1600m) and Listed 3YO Salver (2100m).
Lot 684 is closely related to the recent South African Group One winner Mississippi Burning (Captain Al).
Lot 1169 is a half-sister to Tivaan Warrior (NZ) (Swiss Ace), who placed in the Group Two Eclipse Stakes (1200m) and runs in Saturday’s $1m Karaka Million 2YO (1200m).
The time-honoured Wellington Cup (3200m) at Trentham last week provided a series of pedigree updates. Lot 1100 is a half-sister to the winner Soleseifei (NZ) (Shocking), while Lot 794 is a half-brother to runner-up The Good Fight (NZ) (High Chaparral) and Lot 312 is a half-brother to the third placegetter Toms (NZ) (Towkay).
KARAKA 2020 SCHEDULE:
Karaka Million Twilight Meeting: Saturday 25 January at Ellerslie
Book 1: Sunday 26 – Tuesday 28 January
Book 2: Wednesday 29 – Friday 31 January
