Ready to Run Graduate Shines at Flemington

Media Release - Monday November 6

With the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale now just a couple of weeks away, a graduate of last year's Sale has starred on one of Australasian racing's greatest stages and her half-brother will be offered at the same sale this month.

Luvaluva(NZ) (Mastercraftsman), who was bought for $55,000 last November, came from the back to score an outstanding win in the A$300,000 Group 2 GH Mumm Wakeful Stakes (2000m) on Victoria Derby day at Flemington.

Luvaluva - Grant CourtneyRidden by Blake Shinn for expat New Zealand trainer John Sargent, Luvaluva was last around the home turn but stormed home with a withering late run to score by head.

"She's a big, strong filly," Sargent said. "She's shown it from the first trial I gave her as a two-year-old. We put her aside and aimed her for these two races this week."

Luvaluva will now line up in Thursday's Group 1 VRC Oaks (2500m), for which the favourite is another Karaka graduate –Aloisia(NZ) (Azamour), who has won the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) and the Group 2 Moonee Valley Vase (2040m) in her last two starts.

Luvaluva is raced by Seymour Bloodstock, Mr M L Connaghan, Mr B J Creith, Mr M B Trevaskis, Mr S C O'Brien, Mr A Gennusa and Mr S W Kennelly. She has now had six starts for two wins and a placing, earning A$217,650 in prizemoney.

The Wakeful Stakes result is part of a wonderful run of success for Kiwi breeder Christopher Grace and his wife Susanna. Home-bred mareShillelagh(NZ) (Savabeel) won Saturday's A$1 million Group 1 Kennedy Mile (1600m) at Flemington, and her full-sisterGrazia(NZ) (Savabeel) won last Saturday's Listed Spring Classic (2000m) at Riccarton.

They will offer Luvaluva's half-brother by Per Incanto (USA) at the 2017 NZB Ready to Run Sale as Lot 424. 

Grace also bredHard Merchandize(NZ) (Burgundy), the winner of last month's Group 2 Hawke's Bay Guineas.

Vendor Surrey Farm
Purchaser Mr JG Sargent (New South Wales)
Breeding Mastercraftsman – Wansesingyee
Sale Lot 24, 2016 Ready to Run Sale, $55,000
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