New Zealand Bloodstock graduates filled the quinella in Saturday’s G2 Manawatu Challenge Stakes at Awapuni, with Per Incanto 6YO Shadows Cast claiming the second Group win of his career.

Shadows Cast was offered on a $10,000 reserve at the 2014 South Island Sale but was passed in at $6000.

He has since become a star sprinter-miler stepping up to G2 level with a dead-heat victory in the 2017 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile at Riccarton.

On Saturday he did it again against a quality weight-for-age field to get the better of $50,000 Select Sale purchase Contessa Vanessa (Bullbars).

Shadows Cast has now had 32 starts for nine wins, nine placings and $304,452 in prize-money – more than 30 times his reserve at the 2014 South Island Sale.

Runner-up Contessa Vanessa, herself a Group 2 winner, has had 26 starts for five wins, 10 placings and $300,091.

The G1 Thorndon Mile is now the likely target for Shadows Cast (Per Incanto x Ages Past by Slavic), one of two winners and the last living foal out of his now deceased dam.

Ages Past was a sister to the Listed winner Rat Tat and a half-sister to the stakes-placed Scan Bold (Daggers Drawn).

Shadows Cast is one of 12 stakes winners for the Street Cry stallion Per Incanto including G1 winner Dal Cielo.

New Zealand St Leger winner Rock On returned to form with a fast finishing victory in the G3 Manawatu Cup at Awapuni.

The 6YO gelding has recently returned from a string of injury problems, breaking down just before the Wellington Cup last season.

A $70,000 NZB Karaka Select Sale purchase Rock On (Road Yo Rock x St Jessie by Jetball) won the Listed New Zealand St Leger and was placed in the G2 Chairman’s Quality at Randwick in Sydney.

Rock On has now had 33 starts for six wins, eight placings and $214,733 in prize-money – more than three times his purchase price at the 2014 Select Sale.