Vodafone NZ Derby (Group 1)

THE filly La Crique was justifiably sent out a short-priced favourite in the Group 1 New Zealand Derby. After drawing one, she had plenty of company at the head of the race which became a hindrance as mid-race moves shuffled her back in the running line.

Settled at the tail, the Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained Asterix made one move, sweeping around the field approaching the final bend before nipping a break as La Crique had to negotiate traffic.

Unrelenting

By the Montjeu horse Tavistock, Asterix was unrelenting to the line, as the Vadamos filly failed by a length and a half to erase the deficit. Third was the Jakkalberry gelding Regal Lion, with a large break to fourth.

At 50/1 Asterix came into the Derby on three runs having debuted in January before winning his maiden over 2,100 metres 17 days earlier.

“We didn’t have any choice,” said.Lance O’Sullivan. “One thing after the other went wrong. It was just immaturity problems with his feet and shins. Ideally, we would have liked to have given him another mile before we ran him at Tauranga, and also an extra run over ground.

Light-framed

“He is a pretty light-framed horse and if there was going to be a horse that could get away with it (light preparation), it was him.”

The win completes back-to-back Derbys for O’Sullivan and Scott who won with the Fastnet Rock colt Rocket Spade last year.

“Sam Kelt bought him for NZ$450,000 at the Ready to Run Sale,” added O’Sullivan.

Melbourne Cup

“Andrew and I sat down Sam, this morning and Sam’s dream has always been to have a runner in a Melbourne Cup.

“He is still a very immature horse and we are hoping all going well that we will end up in the Melbourne Cup this year.”

BOOK 1 of New Zealand Bloodstock’s Karaka Yearling Sale finished strongly as receipts climbed to a gross of NZ$63,127,500, up 24% from last year. “At the close of selling today, we saw 105 yearlings traded for an amount of $200,000 or more, compared to just 74 lots selling for that same amount or over in 2021,” said NZB managing director Andrew Seabrook. “We also saw five lots sell over the $800,000 threshold this year, compared to just one lot in 2021.”

Top lot

The top lot for the sale was the Savabeel full-brother to Mo’unga sold by Waikato Stud. “He is a lot like his brother at the same stage,” said Kacy Fogden. “The way he comes out and does his job and Mo’unga is a bit the same. He is very straightforward, has a good temperament, and is very athletic.” The colt will go to Annabel Neasham.

Almost topping that result was the A$900,000 Roger James paid for the colt from the first-season sire The Autumn Sun out of the More Than Ready mare Pristino. “Elated is probably the best word I can use,” said James afterwards. “I’ve been coming to these sales for probably 40 years now and I don’t think I have been hotter on a horse ever. I can’t remember whether I have bid, bought or been disappointed on a horse of his quality before, as I think there is just not a box he doesn’t tick in my respect.”

Overall the sale averaged $146,808 with a median of $100,000 from 430 sold at a clearance rate of 77%. Te Akau Racing were the leading buyers with David Ellis signing for 31 yearlings at an average of $260,323, while Waikato Stud and Cambridge Stud were the leading vendors selling 39 and 34 yearlings respectively at aggregates of $7.86 and $6.105 million.

The leading sire by aggregate was Savabeel whose 35 yearlings that sold totalled $10,755,000 at an average of $307,286.