Australian campaigns are looming for classy New Zealanders Maygrove and Mabeel following their feature race wins at Awapuni on Saturday.
In-form stayer Maygrove, a son of English Derby winner Authorized, is in line for another trip across the Tasman after winning the G1 Awapuni Gold Cup.
The grey was third in the G3 Bendigo Cup and was fourth in the Geelong Cup and the Bart Cummings during a spring campaign in Victoria last year.This time the son of the Zabeel mare Lady Zhivago could be heading to the Brisbane carnival.
Maygrove’s convincing performance in the $100,000 Awapuni Gold Cup (2000m) saw him beat fellow Karaka graduates Trojan Warrior (Postponed) and King Kamada (Shinko King).It was the second stakes win for Maygrove, having won the G2 Wellington Cup (2400m) in 2015. He has now had 32 starts for six wins, 10 placings and more than $300,000 prizemoney.
Bred by the Laurel Oak Lady Zhivago Syndicate, Maygrove was put through the 2012 Karaka Select Sale where he was purchased by Bruce Perry Bloodstock for $110,000. Runner-up Trojan Warrior was a $25,000 purchase at the 2013 Select Sale, while the third-placed King Kamada cost $45,000 at the 2011 Ready to Run Sale.Savabeel sprinter Mabeel could also be heading to the Queensland carnival following an impressive victory in the Listed Fairdale/Goodwood Stud Handicap at Awapuni.
The gelding was eased down to finish four and a quarter lengths clear of fellow Karaka graduates Seize The Moment (Pins) and Scapolo (Bachelor Duke).The win was Mabeel’s sixth from 12 career starts and boosted his stakes earnings to $162,610. Bred by Plans Awry Ltd and put through the Karaka sale ring by Shelby Park, he was bought for $80,000 by his Hong Kong-based owner Deborah Ho at the 2012 Premier Sale.
The second placegetter Seize The Moment cost $50,000 at the 2012 Premier Sale and Scapolo cost $40,000 at the 2011 Select Sale and has won more than $560,000.• GALLANT GURU, a son of Montjeu, sired his first Group winner when Coulee (Gallant Guru x Cherry Creek by Monashee Mountain) won the G3 South Island Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes at Riccarton.
• FIRST season sire So You Think sired his third winner when his daughter La Diosa (So You Think x Star Affair by Star Way) won on debut at Riccarton Park on Saturday.• ANABAA’s son Dalghar sired his first Southern Hemisphere winner and third overall when Astara (Dalghar x Svita by Success Express) won at Ellerslie. Dalghar, a half brother to Daylami (Doyoun) and Dalakhani (Darshaan), stands at Brighthill Farm in New Zealand.
