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The cream of the crop at Karaka 2020, Day 1.

In a sale that unearthed the likes of Melody Belle, So You Think, Beauty Generation and many, many more, we look ahead to the Karaka 2020s best bred lots. 

Lot 12
Sex: Colt
Sire: Iffraaj
Dam: Kate Cross
Damsire: Cape Cross
Vendor: Windsor Park Stud

The colt is out of four-time winning Cape Cross (Green Desert) mare Kate Cross, who has produced four winners to date with the quartet headed by Group 1 winner Consensus (Postponed). Further back this is family as Listed-winning pair Silver Baron (Defensive Play) and Aspen Lass (Alamosa). 

Lot 13 
Sex: Colt 
Sire: Snitzel
Dam: Katie Lee 
Damsire: Pins
Vendor: Cambridge Stud

This son of Australia's three-time champion sire Snitzel (Redoute's Choice) is out of Katie Lee (Pins), who completed the rare feat of winning the New Zealand 2,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) and 1,000 (Gr 1, 1600m). The mare has had four progeny sold at public auction and they have made an aggregate of NZ$2,620,000. Pins (Snippets) is responsible for 34 stakes winners as a broodmare sire, including four elite-level winners. 

Lot 18
Sex: Colt
Sire: Iffraaj
Dam: Keepa Cheval
Damsire: Keeper
Vendor: Cambridge Stud

The Cambridge Stud-consigned colt is out of winning Keeper (Danehill) mare Keepa Cheval, making him a half-brother dual Group 1 winner The Bostonian (Jimmy Choux). Keepa Cheval herself is a half-sister to multiple Group 1 scorer Mufhasa (Pentire). 

Lot 86 
Sex: Colt 
Sire: Tavistock
Dam: Meleka Belle 
Damsire: Iffraaj
Vendor: Haunui Farm

This colt has to be one of the most anticipated lots of the whole week. The yearling is out of  Meleka Belle (Iffraaj) making the colt a half-brother to New Zealand super star mare Melody Belle (Commands), who has won ten Group 1s in total. By the late Cambridge Stud sire Tavistock (Montjeu), who has sired 19 stakes winners, including four top-level scorers. 

Lot 135
Sex: Colt
Sire: Tavistock
Dam: Not A Jaffa
Damsire: Iffraaj
Vendor: Little Avondale Stud

Out of unraced Iffraaj (Zafonic) mare Not A Jaffa, a half-sister to multiple Group 1 winner Werther (Tavistock) and Group 3 winner Gobstopper (Tavistock). Further back this is same family as Listed winner Northern Hilite (Vice Regent) - the dam of Strong Credentials (Carson City). 

Lot 150
Sex: Colt 
Sire: Zed
Dam: Opulence
Damsire: Danroad
Vendor: Grangewilliam Stud

The Grangewilliam Stud-consigned colt is out of two-time winning mare Opulence (Danroad) who has already proved herself a top-class producer - being the dam of three winners, heading by dual Group 1 winner Verry Elleegant (Zed) - this colt's sister. Further afield this is breed-shaping family of Octagonal (Zabeel), Danewin (Danehill) and Commands (Danehill). 

Lot 155
Sex: Colt
Sire: Pierro
Dam: Our Squeezer
Damsire: Redoute's Choice
Vendor: Westbury Stud

This colt is bred on the potent cross of Pierro and Redoute's Choice, which has been the source of eight stakes winners in total, including three elite level scorers; Levendi, Acadia Queen and Regal Power. This yearling is out of Our Squeezer, who is herself a half-sister to three-time Group 1 winner Bonneval (Makfi), Group 2 winner Lord Arthur (Camelot) and Group 3-winning trio Imposing Lass (Makfi), Full Of Spirit (Flying Spur) and Lady Cumquat (Duke Of Marmalade). 

Lot 175
Sex: Filly
Sire: Tivaci
Dam: Pica Pica
Damsire: Stravinsky
Vendor: Wentwood Grange

From the first crop of Waikato Stud's newest recruit Tavaci (High Chaparral), the filly is out of Pica Pica (Stravinsky) whose two foals to race have both been winners including Group 1 winner Signify (Perfectly Ready) and Group 1-placed El Sicario (Bullbars). The Wentwood Grange offering is also closely related to Hong Kong Group 3 winner Champion's Way (Hinchinbrook).  

Lot 186
Sex: Colt
Sire: Tavistock
Dam: Pondarosa Miss
Damsire: High Chaparral
Vendor: Cambridge Stud

Out of Easter Handicap (Gr 1, 1600m) winner Pondarosa Miss (High Chaparral) who is herself a sister to multiple stakes winner and Group 1-placed Ecuador. Meanwhile, under the colt's third dam is Group 2-winning mare Bak De Chief (Chief Bearhart) - the dam of Group 2 winner and Group 1-placed gelding Te Akau Shark (Rip Van Winkle). 

Lot 190
Sex: Colt
Sire: Savabeel
Dam: Posy
Damsire: No Excuse Needed
Vendor: Waikato Stud

The Waikato Stud-consigned colt is out of two-time winning No Excuse Needed (Machiavellian) mare Posy, who is herself a sister to dual Group 1 winner Daffodil. The pair are out of Spring (O'Reilly) who is a half-sister to Group 1 winner Good Faith (Straight Strike) - the dam of Group 3 winner Tully Dane (Danehill) and Listed winner Mygoodgrace (Royal Academy). This is also the family of Listed winner Tavy (Tavistock) and Group 2 winner Believe Yourself (Sebring). 

Lot 231
Sex: Colt
Sire: Sebring
Dam: Rollout The Carpet
Damsire: Holy Roman Emperor
Vendor: Curraghmore

The colt is the second foal out of New Zealand 1,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) winner Rollout The Carpet (Holy Roman Emperor). The colt's third dam, Out Of Egypt (Red Ransom), is a sister to Grade 2 winner Wandering Star - the dam of Dewhurst Stakes (Gr 1, 7f) winner War Command (War Front) and Listed winner Naval Officer (Tale Of The Cat). Wandering Star also produced Wonder Woman (Storm Cat) - the dam of Listed winners War Officer (Grand Slam) and Doo Lang (Pulpit).