Kingsguard (NZ) Heads Karaka Quinella in Hawkesbury Gold Cup

Buyers had two opportunities to buy Kingsguard (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle) at Karaka, but the gelding was still carrying the colours of his co-breeders Windsor Park Stud when he capped a consistent form line with a career-best win in Saturday’s A$200,000 Group 3 Livamol Hawkesbury Gold Cup (1600m).

Windsor Park offered the son of stakes-winning Volksraad mare Her Royal Highness (NZ) at the 2014 Premier Sale, where he fell short of his $60,000 reserve. He returned later that year for the Ready to Run Sale with his reserve set at $50,000, but again went unsold.

Retained to race by Windsor Park Stud in partnership with Mr S J Till, Mr J Schick, Mr M Alexander, Mrs A Alexander, Mr M C H Cross, Mrs M J Olsen and Mr P Olsen, he began his career in New Zealand under the name His Majesty. He placed in three of his six starts in his homeland, including behind the Group 1-winning colt Xtravagant (NZ) (Pentire) on Boxing Day at Ellerslie.

Sent to the Rosehill stable of Team Hawkes and renamed Kingsguard, he won four of his first 20 starts on that side of the Tasman and placed in another five to earn Saturday’s shot at Hawkesbury Gold Cup glory.

Rider Brenton Avdulla positioned the five-year-old just behind the front-running Ecuador (NZ) (High Chaparral), then went for gold at the top of the straight. Ecuador refused to surrender without a fight, and McCreery (Big Bad Bob) joined in with a strong challenge of his own, but Kingsguard kicked strongly to win by three-quarters of a length.

“I’m rapt for Windsor Park – they’ve been very patient,” Michael Hawkes said. “He’s a consistent galloper, he’s always been thereabouts. Today he jumped well, travelled nicely, stalked the leader and got into a good rhythm. He drew away in the end and it was a good win.”

Kingsguard has now had 27 starts for five wins, 11 placings and A$390,000 in prize-money – more than six times the reserves that were set for him at Karaka.

The Hawkesbury Gold Cup was a Karaka quinella, with runner-up Ecuador purchased for $360,000 at the 2011 Premier Sale. He has had 42 starts for 10 wins, 14 placings and more than A$1.1 million in stakes.

Kingsguard’s win added to an outstanding week for Windsor Park and the Alchemy Family Trust. The same combination bred Wednesday’s A$120,000 Listed Anzac Day Stakes (1400m) winner Vassilator (NZ) (Zacinto), who was a $25,000 purchase at the 2017 Select Sale.