Purple patch of form extended
Sagunto has been in impressive form this preparation and his tenacity was further rewarded at Otaki this afternoon.
The son of the late O’Reilly was quickly into his customary front-running role under rider Shaun McKay for his father and trainer Peter and they took the field along at a genuine clip.
Sagunto was hotly challenged at the top of the straight, but he wasn’t to be denied and despite giving weight to the second and third placegetters, rallied gallantly for his third win from his last four appearances.
He was a $120,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sale purchase and is out of the Listed Northland Breeders’ S. winner Queen Sabeel.
A sister to the winner and Group performer Bardem, Queen Sabeel has a perfect record at stud with all four of her foals to race successful.
Tivaci’s Movie Night steals the show at Newcastle
A sister to the Gr.1 ATC Flight Stakes (1600m) winner Never Been Kissed, the Waikato Stud-bred and raced Movie Night (NZ) was rewarded for her consistency, breaking her maiden with an all-the-way win over 1400m at Newcastle for trainer Tom Charlton.
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Oilman’s stud stake could change course of NZ breeding
Eighteen months ago, Texas oilman Nelson Bunker Hunt walked through the lush Waikato pasture of Matamata’s Balcarres Stud and announced he wanted some just like it for his own.
Today he has-360 acres about a mile down the road which has been transformed from a dairy farm to one of New Zealand’s leading horse and cattle breeding establishments.
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