Little Avondale Stud

Second on debut in the Group III Maribyrnong Plate at Flemington, the Per Incanto (USA) colt Little Brose went one better in Saturday’s Listed Thoroughbred Club Merson Cooper Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield.

National Jockey’s Premiership leader Kozzi Asano continued a white-hot run of form when he guided Lightning Jack to an upset victory in Saturday’s Listed Liquorland Gore Guineas (1335m).

Karaka 2020 looms as a bumper week for Wairarapa’s Little Avondale Stud and their high-flying stallion Per Incanto.

Tenacious six-year-old Mauna Kea scored the biggest win of his career to date when his never-say-die attitude paved the way for a gritty victory in Saturday’s Group III Gee & Hickton Funeral Directors Thompson Handicap (1600m) at Trentham.

Red-hot jockey Zac Purton had to settle for second in Sunday afternoon’s feature at Sha Tin as Classic Unicorn, a son of Little Avondale stallion Per Incanto, made it two from two in the Class 3 Members Cup Handicap (1000m).

After enjoying a successful day at Te Aroha on Saturday with Group One winner Nicoletta and promising three-year-old Santa Catarina, owner Lib Petagna and his familiar lime, blue and gold colours were to the fore again on Sunday when speedy two-year-old Ramazzotti scored over 800m on debut at Pukekohe.

Resident Little Avondale Stud stallion Per Incanto has already recorded two Group One wins as a sire this year and the Wairarapa farm has subsequently increased his service fee to $17,500+GST for the forthcoming breeding season.

Sometimes when you see the progeny of a first season sire, you just know this stallion has got something.

Underrated galloper Shadows Cast gave his rivals weight and a beating when he took out the prestigious Group I Harcourts Thorndon Mile (1600m) at Trentham on Saturday.

Te Awamutu trainer Stephen Ralph experienced the biggest day in his racing career on New Year's Day after winning the Group I  Sistema Railway (1200m) with Santa Monica, but it was the wave of support he received after the race that meant more to the Waikato horseman.

Outsider Santa Monica belied her $77 winning-odds to take out the Group ISistema Railway (1200m) at Ellerslie on New Year's Day.

Smart racemare Indecision gave her rivals weight and a comprehensive beating when she led all the way to win the Listed Hallmark Stud Handicap (1200m) at Ellerslie.

Karaka graduates filled the quinella in Saturday's $100,000 Kamada Park Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m) at Awapuni, Shadows Cast (Per Incanto) claiming the second Group Two win of his career.

It was a day for the locals at Awapuni on Saturday when classy sprinter-miler Shadows Cast upset predictions in the Group II  Kamada Park Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m).

A bold front-running performance saw the Tony Pike-trained Indecision add further valuable black-type to her career record when she scored in the Listed Legacy Lodge Sprint (1200m) at Te Rapa.

Danny Walker savoured a bonus win with the promising youngster Star Performance at Te Rapa.

The Southern Hemisphere breeding rights to the European Group Two winner and Group One-placed Time Test (GB) have been secured by Little Avondale Stud.

Upper Bloodstock business partners Andy Lau, Ross Lao and Tristan Hui created sunshine on a rainy day at Karaka when they snapped up a flashy Per Incanto colt for the session’s top price.

Exposure on the international stage has provided Little Avondale Stud with another timely boost.

Exceptional five-year-old Dolcetto took his career to another level at Awapuni where he comfortably put away a talented field of black type hopefuls.