Spring Racing Heats Up for Karaka Graduates

The Chosen One (NZ) Seals Caulfield Cup Spot

Beautifully bred four-year-old The Chosen One (NZ) (Savabeel) earned a shot at next week’s A$5 million Group One Caulfield Cup (2400m) with a crucial victory on Saturday.

The Cambridge-trained runner bounced back from a last-start disappointment to score a thrilling win over proven Group One performer Prince of Arran (Shirocco) in the A$400,000 Group Two Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) at Caulfield.

Bred by the Dennis brothers and descending from their multiple Group One winner The Jewel (NZ) (O’Reilly), The Chosen One was passed in at the 2017 Premier Sale with a $150,000 reserve. With his breeders retaining a share of the ownership, he has won five of his 14 starts and more than $560,000 in stakes.

“He’s a horse on the way up,” said Murray Baker, who trains in partnership with Andrew Forsman. “He saw the trip out, which was the main thing, and we go on to the Caulfield Cup now.”

Strong Return for Secret Allure (NZ)

The $36,000 Select Sale graduate Secret Allure (NZ) (Zacinto) was one of New Zealand’s leading three-year-old fillies of last season, and she scored her first win of a new campaign in Saturday’s $75,000 Group Three Rich Hill Stud Taranaki Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) at Hawera.

The Lisa Latta-trained filly earned $113,475 last season, winning the Group Three Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) and the Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (2000m) and finishing fourth in the Group One Gavelhouse.com New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m).

On Saturday she charged home from near last, sprinting home down the middle of the track for a stylish one-length victory.

“I got in a bit of a pickle around the turn with a few horses coming back on me,” jockey Rosie Myers said. “I had the horse underneath me though and was able to get the gaps when they came. She just flew, didn’t she?”

Secret Allure has now had 19 starts for five wins, six placings and $218,725 in prize-money – more than six times her purchase price.

Stakes Success for Craftsmanship (NZ)

$360,000 Book 1 purchase Craftsmanship (NZ) (Savabeel) stepped up to stakes class with a strong performance in Saturday’s $100,000 Listed Hill Smith Stakes (1800m) at Morphettville.

Ridden by Kayla Crowther, the Mick Price and Michael Kent-trained three-year-old ran the race out strongly to edge out Balaabel (Not a Single Doubt) and Magazine (NZ) (Savabeel) in an exciting three-way finish.

“Such a thrill to ride a treble today at Morphettville, with Craftsmanship being the absolute highlight,” Crowther tweeted.

Craftsmanship has now won two of his four starts and $88,000. He races in the colours of the late Dato’ Tan Chin Nam.

A son of the stakes-winning New Zealand mare Aspinal (NZ) (Pins), Craftsmanship was bred by the Little Avondale Trust.