The sun shone brightly on the Hunter Valley in New South Wales on Saturday, and fans at Newcastle Racecourse were treated to an outstanding afternoon of racing where Godolphin and the Snowden stable captured the biggest spoils.
With Karaka about to be the centre of the Australasian thoroughbred industry's attention during this week's 2022 Ready to Run Sale, New Zealand Bloodstock teamed up with the Newcastle Jockey Club for the second straight year to run Newcastle's November stand-alone Saturday meeting as a New Zealand-themed raceday. NZB played an integral part, serving as principal sponsor of the entire meeting as well as the A$200,000 Group Three New Zealand Bloodstock Spring Stakes (1600m) and multiple undercard races.
But Saturday's main event was the richest race run in the Hunter region every year, the A$1m The Hunter (1300m). The Godolphin operation won it for the second time in the race's four-year history, and their remarkable double has come with a pair of siblings. Saturday's winner Vilana (Hallowed Crown) followed in the footsteps of his half-sister, the inaugural winner Savatiano (Street Cry).
The James Cummings-trained four-year-old had to work hard for Saturday's win, edging out a gallant In The Congo (Snitzel) in a stirring two-horse duel down the Newcastle straight.
This was the sixth win of a 10-start career for Vilana, whose previous victories included the Group Three Fred Best Classic (1400m) in Brisbane and last month's A$1m Silver Eagle (1300m) at Randwick.
Pierossa Upsets in Spring Stakes
Saturday's A$200,000 Group Three New Zealand Bloodstock Spring Stakes (1600m) also produced an exciting finish, with only 1.7 lengths separating the first seven horses home.
But it was the overlooked filly Pierossa (Pierro) who finished strongest of all, edging out Karaka graduate Kazalark (NZ) (Vadamos) by a desperate neck.
Pierossa is a half-sister to stakes winner Ploverset (Street Boss) and has now had two wins and two second placings in a six-start career to date.
"That was a tough win," jockey Sam Clipperton said. "I've had a lot of time for this filly for a fair while.
"She's progressed with the more racing she has had. She won a maiden at Gosford with little depth, but her work on Tuesday morning was first-class.
"She is a filly that you must squeeze every little bit out of, but she knuckles down under hard riding. She will be a more mature filly in the autumn who will be best over distances around 2000 metres."
Pierossa is trained by Peter and Paul Snowden for syndicators Triple Crown Syndications.
King Frankel All the Way in The Beauford
Trainer Mark Newnham and apprentice jockey Tyler Schiller combined for a powerful front-running victory by King Frankel (Frankel) in the A$300,000 The Beauford (2300m).
Sent out as a warm favourite on the strength of another all-the-way win at Warwick Farm on October 19, the five-year-old gelding ran his rivals into the ground and won by two and a half lengths from Karaka graduates Kukeracha (NZ) (Night Of Thunder) and Gin Martini (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle).
King Frankel has now won four of his 14 starts and more than A$297,000 in prizemoney.
"He's a pretty talented little horse and he's improved every week," Newnham said. "His recovery is fantastic, he's a really clean-winded horse.
"I'll have a look this afternoon as to what gap I could give him in the autumn. The good thing about what he's shown so far is he's won on a Heavy 10 and probably today is close to a Good 3. I won't need to plan around the weather. There's the Sydney Cup (Group One, 3200m), which would be a nice aim."
Karaka Graduates Provide Fitting Finale
A superb afternoon of racing ended with a final flourish by Karaka graduates, who finished first, second and third in the A$150,000 NZB Jack Newton Legend Mile (1600m).
The race was won by Redwood Shadow (NZ) (Redwood), who was offered by Leanach Lodge in Book 2 of Karaka 2019. He has now had 23 starts for four wins, eight placings and A$227,425 in stakes.
Runner-up Kedah (NZ) (Per Incanto) has earned A$289,855 in a career that spans 40 starts for seven wins and 10 placings. She was bought for only $5000 at Karaka as a weanling in 2016, then returned as a yearling and was secured by Bruce Perry Bloodstock for $65,000 from the 2017 Select Sale.
The third placegetter was Sindacato (NZ) (Per Incanto), who was offered at the 2017 Ready to Run Sale. His 11 start career has produced two wins, five placings and A$68,909 in stakes to date.
Another notable race on Saturday's card was the A$150,000 Alf Kneebone Trans-Tasman Trophy (1850m), where Australian-born and New Zealand-born trainers compete head-to-head. The race, named after the highly respected racing scribe Alf Kneebone, celebrates the talented trainers produced by both Australia and New Zealand. The winning trainer of the race receives a NZ$5,000 NZB credit towards the Karaka 2023 yearling sale, and this year that went to Greg Hickman with Rondino (Shamus Award).
Other results included a win by two-year-old filly Fire Lane (Hellbent) in the A$150,000 NZB Airfreight Max Lees Classic (900m), Ten Bells (Nicconi) in the A$150,000 DoubleTree by Hilton Karaka Fillies and Mares (1400m), and Coal Crusher (Turffontein) in the A$150,000 Karaka 2023 Benchmark 88 Handicap (1300m).
