Showcasing Colt Ready for Karaka Million

Media Release - Tuesday January 23
Andrew Scott and Lance O'Sullivan have all but done their job with Nirvana In Fire and now they're praying for a bit of outside help.

Nirvana in Fire - Race ImagesThe Matamata trainers are thrilled with the colt ahead of the sternest test of his fledgling career in Saturday's Karaka Million (1200m) at Ellerslie.

"He's made really good progress and we couldn't be happier with him," said Scott, who also shares in the ownership of the son on Showcasing.

"Sam Collett has been booked to ride him, but it will come down to a good draw and good luck – hopefully that's us."

Nirvana In Fire was a trial winner before he was successful on debut at Pukekohe Park and he then confirmed his Karaka Million berth with a runner-up finish at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.

"He's got the form and he's earned the money to get in so he's a legitimate chance," Scott said.

Meanwhile, stablemate Spring Heat enjoyed a week in the paddock following her brave effort in the Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m) at Trentham.

The daughter of More Than Ready got back in the field from an outside gate and finished well for fifth behind Age Of Fire.

"She ran the second quickest last 600m of the race so we were well pleased with her performance," Scott said.

"We walked away without any black type, but we certainly weren't disappointed in her. We're not sure just yet whether she wants to run a mile or if she's more effective over 1400m."

Scott said Spring Heat, whose two wins includes the Gr.3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m), will make her return in the Listed Mufhasa Stakes (1300m) at Ellerslie on March 3. – NZ Racing Desk.



Advertisment
More Reading...
$2000 Mare Wins Winton Cup
Exciting southern mare The Grey Goose continued her faultless preparation with an impressive performance to win Sunday’s Hyde Landscaping and Wash Rite Winton Cup (1400m) at Ascot Park.
Expensive Xtravagant Wins $1million Meteorite
The highest priced yearling by Xtravagant sold in 2022, progressive sprinter Nadal (Xtravagant) produced an explosive turn of foot to come from near last to win the inaugural running of today’s $1m The Ladbrokes Meteorite at Cranbourne.
Aussie Mare Youngstar Produces Exciting Japanese G3 Winner
Australian Group I winning half-sisters Youngstar and Funstar are both at stud in Japan and the former has a very smart two year-old colt in Eri King, who made it three wins from three starts when taking out the Group III Radio Nikkei Hai Kyoto Nissai Stakes (2000m) on Saturday.
Sun City Filly to Target Karaka Million
The Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) has been the goal for Sierra Leone from the moment she was purchased at the Yearling Sales, and she took an important step towards the $1 million feature with a game second in Saturday’s Listed Counties Challenge Stakes (1100m).
$1,100 Gavelhouse Purchase a Christmas winner
Jenna Mahoney’s $1,000 gavelhouse.com weanling buy Opalescence (NZ) (Showcasing) built on her promising debut second last month to go one better at Awapuni on Saturday.
Better Than Ready's Port Lockroy Triumphs in G1 Railway Stakes
Interstate visitors have a poor winning record in the $1,500,000 Group 1 Swan Draught - Railway Stakes, but Port Lockroy played his part in squaring the ledger when choosing the perfect spot to end a run of bad luck in stakes races.
Storyville Downs the Colts in G2 WA Guineas
The WA Champion Fillies Stakes heroine Storyville earned a shot at the Group 1 Northerly Stakes after she gave the colts a start and beating in Saturday’s $500,000 Group II White Claw - WA Guineas (1600m) at Ascot.
One to Watch – Canberra
At the 2023 Magic Millions Yearling Sale on the Gold Coast US investors Richard and Tammy Rigney of Rigney Racing purchased two yearling fillies by I Am Invincible for $2million and $1.2million and got a result with one of them in Canberra on Sunday.
New French Stakes-Winner for Churchill
Currently finishing his seventh season of shuttling to Coolmore Australia, Churchill has had a productive year and sired his 16th stakes-winner of 2024 when progressive three year-old filly Some Skye landed the Listed Grand Prix de Fontainebleau (1900m) at Chantilly.
Showcasing to Continue Karaka Million Dominance
Taroni, an impressive 2YO winner at Ellerslie on Boxing Day in the colours of Cambridge Stud's Brendan and Jo Lindsay, joins Group two-winner PLAY THAT SONG, stakes performer Ohio Showgirl and Australian-based Disco Lights to give former Haunui Farm stallion Showcasing (GB) (Oasis Dream) four of the top twelve qualifiers as the countdown to the Karaka Million gets underway in earnest