Karaka graduate First Seal (Fastnet Rock) trumped her high-profile counterparts with a strong victory in the Group 2 A$175,000 Coolmore Tea Rose Stakes against the three-year-old fillies at Randwick.
The Group 2 event was built up as a match-race between race-favourites Winx (Street Cry) and Earthquake (Exceed and Excel) but it was the NZ$700,000 Karaka Premier Sale graduate that showed the pair up for trainer John Thompson.
Enjoying a cosy trail behind Earthquake and Winx, First Seal was given a saloon passage on the inside of the pair in the straight. When it appeared the two favourites were going to battle the finish out, the daughter of Fastnet Rock surged on the inside, powering to the finish to win by three-quarters-of-a-length from Winx with a head to Earthquake.
Carrying the colours of China Horse Club, First Seal is the first major winner for the syndicate who are developing the thoroughbred industry in China. Also in the ownership are Think Big Stud, Westcode Pty Ltd, Mr J S C Chua & Raffles Thoroughbred Racing. It was a highly successful day for Raffles Thoroughbred Racing who also part-own Group 1 George Main Stakes winner Sacred Falls (NZ) (O'Reilly).
"It was a good win, I am very happy with her," commented Thompson. "She is a high-quality and progressive filly that will head towards the Group 1 Flight Stakes in two weeks. To beat those fillies at set weights was a pretty good achievement.
"It was a thrill to win a big race for the owners, China Horse Club. I did a job for them in China last year and it is good to come back and train for them on home soil."
Saturday's victory was the second win from only four starts for the three-year-old filly, earning A$158,360 in prizemoney for her owners.
Bred by Cambridge-based Raffles Dancers (NZ) Pty Ltd, First Seal is out of dual Group 1 Oaks winner Episode (Scenic), the dam of Group 2 Tulloch Stakes winner Book of Kells (Rock of Gibraltar) and stakes placegetter Best Command (Court Command).
Bart Cummings purchased First Seal from the 2013 Karaka Premier Sale from Curraghmore Stud. Gordon Cunningham's Curraghmore Stud's 2013 draft also included Kuro (NZ) (Denman), the winner of the Listed Heritage Stakes that was one race earlier on the card at Randwick.
Kiwi three-year-old Kuro (NZ) (Denman) sped to victory in the Listed A$100,000 Schweppes Heritage Stakes (1100m) at Randwick in race-record time on Saturday.
Entering the race as winner of his previous two starts, which were also his only two starts as a three-year-old, for trainer Joe Pride, Kuro was sent out race-favourite by punters in the seven-horse field.
Beginning from barrier five, Kuro found himself three-wide early in the race and having to work hard to find the lead for rider Blake Shinn. After pulling his way to the front, the son of Denman couldn't cross Klammer (Snitzel) on his inside.
Kuro proved he was a class above his rivals in the straight as he sprinted away from the field to convincingly win by 1.8 lengths in a time of 1:02:37 from Echo Gal (Stratum) and Klammer hanging on for third.
"It was a really impressive win," commented Pride. "He has taken a big leap forward this preparation which is exciting. I am convinced he is going to be a much better horse in the autumn, he is a really exciting colt.
"The plan is to run him in another Listed race in a month then he will go to the paddock after that and come back in the autumn to run in better class races again."
Saturday's victory was Kuro's fourth win from six starts and has earned $149,050 for his owners Champion Thoroughbreds, Tab Rewards, Nearco Stud Ltd, Mrs H M Horton, Mr D Yates, Mr D W Willis, Mr A J Gordon, Mr B S Audet, Sedgewyn Syndicate, Birdworld Syndicate, Mr D H Long, Mrs S Denny, Ms C J Bailey & Mr S Thatcher.
Bred by Nearco Stud Ltd, Kuro is out of the Listed placed mare Distinctive Lass (Orientate), a granddaughter of Special (Habituate), a winner of three Group 1 races over sprint distances and dam of two stakes winners.
Jason Abrahams' Champion Thoroughbreds purchased Kuro for NZ$170,000 at the 2013 Karaka Premier Sale from Gordon Cunningham's Curraghmore Stud. Cunningham's operation continued a hot run of form with further success at Randwick when fellow Curraghmore Stud and Karaka graduate First Seal (Fastnet Rock) won the Group 2 Tea Rose Stakes later in the day.
"Jason has had a bit of luck buying out of Karaka and we will be back there next year no doubt," said Pride.
It was a superb day for Karaka graduates at Randwick with Sacred Falls (NZ) (O'Reilly) racing to his fourth Group 1 victory in the Group 1 George Main Stakes to go with the victories of Kuro and First Seal.
Kiwi's enjoyed a stellar day at the Randwick with the stakes victories of Sacred Falls and Kuro adding to First Seal's success.
NZB Release
