Boost for Karaka-bound Tivaci youngster

A colt in Waikato Stud’s draft at the upcoming New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sale was handed a timely pedigree update at Pukekohe on Saturday afternoon.

Lot 5, a son of Tivaci and his half-sister Zee Falls, produced a strong performance over 2200 metres to claim the thick end of the stake in the Karaka Cup.

They are out of the Zabeel mare Zelitist, who is a half-sister to the former champion two-year-old and G1 Diamond S. winner Warhorse and the immediate family of the two-time Group 2 winner California Dane.

Successful in the G3 Wellington S. as a three-year-old, Zee Falls was partnered today by multiple Group 1-winning Victorian-based jockey Damian Lane and he had the daughter of the late Scared Falls close to the pace from an awkward gate.

They took over at the top of the straight and stayed on strongly for the mare’s third career victory.

“She has been going such good races and he (Lane) is a world class rider who got her in before the first bend,” trainer Stephen Marsh said.

“We might carry on with her or give her 10 days in the paddock and then go through the autumn.”

Zee Falls, who is likely to be offered for sale later this year, was purchased by Marsh out of the Matamata farm’s 2019 line-up at Karaka for $130,000.