Black Muscat Super Impressive In The New Zealand Bloodstock 3yo Classique

Black Muscat (O'Reilly x Black Sugar) confirmed that he is one of the country's most exciting 3YOs after a gutsy win in the $100,000 New Zealand Bloodstock 3YO Classique (1600m) at Tauranga on Saturday, in what were very testing soft track conditions.

The powerfully built O'Reilly gelding wore down the diminutive but gallant Bunker (Sandtrap x Perfect) in the final stages of the race to defeat the Group 1 winner by half a length. Country Class (Woodborough x Malahide) finished two and a quarter lengths back in third place and was the first of the fillies home.

The Paul O'Sullivan trained Black Muscat was purchased at the 2001 New Zealand Bloodstock Select Colts Sale by Robert Priscott for $50,000 from the draft of Waikato Stud. Black Muscat is raced by prominent owner Terry Jarvis, who has enjoyed previous success with the likes of Hill of Grace, Pure Theatre, Sequel and Damaschino.

Black Muscat is fashioning a very impressive record with four wins and a second from just six raceday starts. The talented gelding will now be tested in better company, with his next start to be in the Group 2 Tulloch Stakes at Rosehill, Sydney on April 12.

The next race in the Mercedes Super Bonus Series is at Canterbury Jockey Club, Riccarton Park, Christchurch on April 5, with the race carrying a $10,000 Mercedes Super Bonus for enrolled runners.

All horses purchased through the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales are eligible to be enrolled in the Mercedes Super Bonus Series, which has a prize-pool of approximately $1.4 million up for grabs over the season.

For more information on the Mercedes Super Bonus Series please contact Guy Mulcaster or Nikki Reed at New Zealand Bloodstock on (09) 298 0055 or email [email protected] or [email protected].