Surely Sacred (NZ) Scores Spectacular Guineas Win

Karaka graduate Surely Sacred (NZ) (Rock ‘n’ Pop) announced his arrival at the top level of three-year-old racing in New Zealand this season with a scintillating performance in the $100,000 Group 2 Jamieson Park Auckland Guineas (1600m) at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day.

Bought for $160,000 from Waikato Stud’s draft at the 2017 Premier Sale, the Raffles Racing runner won on debut at Te Rapa in late November.

In his only other start he was a fast-finishing second in the Group 3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m), with subsequent stakes winner Hypnos (NZ) (Reliable Man) behind him in third.

But he went to a new level in the Auckland Guineas. After travelling towards the rear of the field, he showed a brilliant turn of foot in the straight to storm home out wide and win by three-quarters of a length.

“With the outside gate we were always going back,” trainer Tony Pike said.

Once he got into the clear, he has got a great turn of foot. He is still learning as well, this is only his third start, so he is an exciting horse going forward.”

Surely Sacred has now had three starts for two wins and a second, earning $79,900 in stakes.

He may now be given a shot at $1 million in the Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m) on January 26.

“We’ll obviously discuss that with the owners, but obviously the Karaka Million is a big stake and a great night,” Pike said.

“They will all be over here, so I’d say they will be leaning towards that.”