Four-year-old mare CARNIVAL (NZ) (Showcasing) was an impressive winner of the Group Three Stewards Handicap over 1200m at Riccarton during Cup Week with her main target the Group One Telegraph Handicap in January. Three-year-old filly So Far Sokool (NZ) (Showcasing) landed her first stakes placing in Australia on the 18thof November since transferring from the stable of Peter and Dawn Williams to Archie Alexander whilst this weekend saw Bit Lippy (NZ) (Showcasing) finish runner-up in the Listed Ashford Lodge Stakes at Counties on debut Truly Belong (NZ) (Showcasing) come up just short in the Listed Placid Arc Stakes (1200m) in Perth.
However, Showcasing's most impressive performer this weekend came in the Wentwood Grange Juvenile at Te Rapa yesterday when debutant SHE'S A THIEF (NZ) (Showcasing) showed a clean pair of heels to her rivals galloping to an almost five-length victory over 1000m from the stable of Mike Moroney and Pam Gerard.
The team at Ballymore Stables have the Karaka Million firmly on the agenda for She's A Thief with Pam Gerard opting for yesterday's race at Te Rapa over the Ashford Lodge Stakes at Counties on Saturday. "In previous years the winner of this race has done enough to get a run in bigger races further down the track," said Pam after the race. "She's done it easily, it was a no pressure race and she didn't have to travel far," she said. "She's a beauty of a filly, she's very easy to train, she does it all herself," she said.Click here to view the race.
Bred by Dan Myers, She's A Thief was a $30,000 purchase out of the Festival Sale at Karaka earlier this year for the ever astute, Paul Moroney.
Showcasing already has an impressive record in the Karaka Million landing the winner in his first crop with Hardline in 2015, he was runner-up in 2016 with Showmeyamoneyhoney whilst Raghu took out the Karaka Million 3YO Mile and, Princess Rihanna ran fourth in last year's contest.
"It's been an exciting couple of weeks for Showcasing and in what seems to be typical fashion for him, the results start to come as soon as the weather and tracks improve," said Haunui Farm's Mark Chitty.
"To get two stakes performed
three-year-old fillies in Australia these past two weeks is very important as they're
our biggest export market and both So Far Sokool and Truly Belong have been
purchased off the track," said Mark.
"And to see She's A Thief come out and win
so impressively yesterday bodes well for the weeks ahead as Showcasing has had
some very nice trial results over the last few weeks with a few more horses to
step out yet," says Mark.
"His progeny were in hot demand at the
Ready-to-Run Sale last week where he had four two-year-olds hit six figures
through the ring, that was off the back of a $10,000 service fee so we have
plenty to look forward to in the months ahead," said Mark.
Showcasing will return to his Northern Hemisphere base of Whitsbury Manor Stud at the end of December where he will serve another full book of mares at a fee of £35,000. He has served another strong book of almost 120 mares at Haunui Farm this season once again ensuring he will have the numbers coming through to continue his racetrack and sale ring success.
Showcasing will return to his Northern Hemisphere base of Whitsbury Manor Stud at the end of December where he will serve another full book of mares at a fee of £35,000. He has served another strong book of almost 120 mares at Haunui Farm this season once again ensuring he will have the numbers coming through to continue his racetrack and sale ring success.