Select Sale Graduates Shine in Uncle Remus Stakes

Graduates of the 2017 Select Sale at Karaka dominated the inaugural running of the $60,000 Listed Shaw’s Wire Ropes Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day, finishing first and second.

The winner was Hypnos (NZ) (Reliable Man), who was bought for $50,000 at the 2017 Select Sale. The runner-up Dawn Patrol (NZ) (Dawn Approach) cost $20,000 at the same Sale.

Dawn Patrol was a last-start second placegetter in the Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas, and he took command at the top of the straight and looked set to go one better in the Uncle Remus Stakes.

But Hypnos, who had been racing near the tail of the field, produced a scintillating burst through his inside. Dawn Patrol was powerless to resist, and Hypnos went clear to win by a length and a half.

“It’s wonderful to train another good horse for Ron and Fran (Dixon, owners),” James said. “They were my first ever owners and the first people I ever bought a yearling for, and that is a long time ago.

“They have stuck with me through thick and thin. We won a Derby on Boxing Day with Hades, an Eight Carat on Boxing Day with Hera and we’ve backed it up with another stakes race on Boxing Day, so we’ve had a lot of good times together and I think we can have more with this horse.

“He’s a horse that has taken a bit of making, but he is getting better with every run and he may well be a Derby horse.”

Hypnos has now had six starts for two wins, three placings and $55,900 in prize-money.

Westbury Stud will offer a full-brother to Hypnos in Book 2 of Karaka 2019, going through the ring as Lot 872.