NEWS & EVENTS
LA to Fore @ Karaka Millions
If Group 1 mare Belclare’s (Per Incanto-Rhythmic Charm by O’Reilly) dominant win over a top field of her sex in the 1400m Group 2 Westbury Classic at Ellerslie on Saturday wasn’t enough, then the spectacular victory of last start Group 1 winner Desert Lightning (Pride of Dubai-Isstoora by High Chaparral) in the inaugural running of the $1 million 1600m Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic capped a huge evening for LA as it embarks on the 98th NZB National Yearling Sales which begins on Sunday at Karaka.
A multiple stakes winner last season, including of the Group 1 NZ Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes, the David and Deb Woodhouse bred Belclare certainly appreciated the firmer track conditions at Ellerslie. The six-year-old Per Incanto mare, who is likely in her final season of racing, took her record to 10 wins from 34 starts, and stake earnings of $744k.
Despite winning the Group 1 TAB Classic at his last start, the under rated Desert Lightning started at the generous odds of $14, much of which to be fair was down to the presence of superstar Legarto in the field of four-year-olds. The Wes Van Der Scheer bred gelding ambled up to the tearaway pacemaker at the home turn and from there on the Peter and Dawn Williams trained gelding gave nothing else a chance, charging to the line and posting a phenomenal 1.32.53 for the 1600m.
Desert Lightning was a $150k purchase by Peter Williams from LA’s 2021 Karaka Book 1 draft for Sarah Green and Ger Beemsterboer’s Barneswood Farms. Isstoora, the dam of Desert Lightning, has a yearling Per Incanto filly, who will be retained by her breeder, and a Per Incanto colt foal at foot.
A wonderful result for the LA born offspring with Belclare and Desert Lightning both being born at Little Avondale. For good measure the 2nd placegetter in the Elsdon Park classic, Legarto’s dam Geordie Girl (Towkay x Racing Waters) was bred and sold by Little Avondale
LA has 27 yearlings catalogued to be sold over the six days of the NZB Karaka Book 1 and Book 2 sales, including eight by leading sire Per Incanto.