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Entries Open for Karaka 2021; Flemington expected to suit Zacinto mare;
Entries Open for Karaka 2021
Entries for New Zealand Bloodstock's 2021 National Yearling Sales Series are now open with the Sale set to take place next summer at the Karaka Sales Centre from Sunday 24 January until Friday 29 January.
With an established reputation of producing world-class thoroughbreds, graduates of the National Yearling Sales Series have claimed 17 Group One races this season alone. From 1200m to 2400m, the alumni have exhibited their diverse power to dominate fields in New Zealand, Australia, and Hong Kong.
A world-renowned buying bench descends upon Karaka every year to purchase quality thoroughbred yearlings that are born and raised in New Zealand's unique environment.
And while travel restrictions may affect Northern Hemisphere buyers physically attending the Sale this year, NZB's Managing Director Andrew Seabrook is confident that the Australians will be in force thanks to a trans-Tasman bubble that is almost certain to be open by the end of this year.
"Many buyers have adapted to purchasing remotely these days, and with our investment in new online bidding technology it will allow our internationals to invest with confidence," Seabrook said.
"And of course our local trainers and agents who have great relationships and influence in our export market can inspect horses on their behalf, as is often the case anyway."
The action-packed week will kick off at Ellerslie Racecourse on Saturday 23 January for the running of the two $1 million feature events for graduates, the iconic Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) and the Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m).
To nominate your yearlings for Karaka 2021, please visit NZB's online portal at portal.nzb.co.nz or contact the Entries Coordinator Mary Jane Harvey (+64 9 393 9832 or +64 9 298 0055, or email maryjane.harvey@nzb.co.nz). Entries close 5pm Friday 17 July 2020.
Flemington expected to suit Zacinto mare
Adelaide trainer Gordon Richards is hopeful the decision to wait an extra week for a Flemington race with Miss Mandito will be rewarded when the mare makes her latest Melbourne appearance.
Miss Mandito won last year's Leilani Series Final at Flemington when trained in Victoria by Charlotte Littlefield and that same race is a target again for the mare on July 4.
The five-year-old will be chasing victory in one of the heats of the series in Saturday's Bruce Gadsden Handicap (1420m) at Flemington.
Miss Mandito has won one of her four starts since joining the Richards stable, with that victory coming in Adelaide last month.
At her most recent start at Caulfield over 1200m on May 30, the mare was back in the field and struck traffic coming to the home turn before working home out wide for third.
"She had no luck at all," Richards said.
"I had her entered at The Valley last Saturday but I thought if she gets into trouble at Caulfield she's probably going to get into just as much trouble at The Valley so I opted to wait a week and go to Flemington on the big roomy track."
Michael Rodd was aboard Miss Mandito last start and has the ride again on Saturday.
Richards has had five Flemington winners from 11 starters this season highlighted by Gytrash's Group One Lightning Stakes success in February.
Miss Mandito, was bred by Gus Wigley at Inglewood Stud and was purchased privately by John Fiteni, who has made a good fist of purchasing modestly priced stock from New Zealand, with Gr.2 Adelaide Cup (3200m) hero Surprise Baby snapped up for just $5,500 from gavelhouse.com
