Little Avondale Stud

National Jockey’s Premiership leader Kozzi Asano continued a white-hot run of form when he guided Lightning Jack to an upset victory in Saturday’s Listed Liquorland Gore Guineas (1335m).

Karaka 2020 looms as a bumper week for Wairarapa’s Little Avondale Stud and their high-flying stallion Per Incanto.

Tenacious six-year-old Mauna Kea scored the biggest win of his career to date when his never-say-die attitude paved the way for a gritty victory in Saturday’s Group III Gee & Hickton Funeral Directors Thompson Handicap (1600m) at Trentham.

Red-hot jockey Zac Purton had to settle for second in Sunday afternoon’s feature at Sha Tin as Classic Unicorn, a son of Little Avondale stallion Per Incanto, made it two from two in the Class 3 Members Cup Handicap (1000m).

After enjoying a successful day at Te Aroha on Saturday with Group One winner Nicoletta and promising three-year-old Santa Catarina, owner Lib Petagna and his familiar lime, blue and gold colours were to the fore again on Sunday when speedy two-year-old Ramazzotti scored over 800m on debut at Pukekohe.

Resident Little Avondale Stud stallion Per Incanto has already recorded two Group One wins as a sire this year and the Wairarapa farm has subsequently increased his service fee to $17,500+GST for the forthcoming breeding season.

Sometimes when you see the progeny of a first season sire, you just know this stallion has got something.

Underrated galloper Shadows Cast gave his rivals weight and a beating when he took out the prestigious Group I Harcourts Thorndon Mile (1600m) at Trentham on Saturday.

Te Awamutu trainer Stephen Ralph experienced the biggest day in his racing career on New Year's Day after winning the Group I  Sistema Railway (1200m) with Santa Monica, but it was the wave of support he received after the race that meant more to the Waikato horseman.

Outsider Santa Monica belied her $77 winning-odds to take out the Group ISistema Railway (1200m) at Ellerslie on New Year's Day.

Smart racemare Indecision gave her rivals weight and a comprehensive beating when she led all the way to win the Listed Hallmark Stud Handicap (1200m) at Ellerslie.

Karaka graduates filled the quinella in Saturday's $100,000 Kamada Park Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m) at Awapuni, Shadows Cast (Per Incanto) claiming the second Group Two win of his career.

It was a day for the locals at Awapuni on Saturday when classy sprinter-miler Shadows Cast upset predictions in the Group II  Kamada Park Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m).

A bold front-running performance saw the Tony Pike-trained Indecision add further valuable black-type to her career record when she scored in the Listed Legacy Lodge Sprint (1200m) at Te Rapa.

Danny Walker savoured a bonus win with the promising youngster Star Performance at Te Rapa.

The Southern Hemisphere breeding rights to the European Group Two winner and Group One-placed Time Test (GB) have been secured by Little Avondale Stud.

Upper Bloodstock business partners Andy Lau, Ross Lao and Tristan Hui created sunshine on a rainy day at Karaka when they snapped up a flashy Per Incanto colt for the session’s top price.

Exposure on the international stage has provided Little Avondale Stud with another timely boost.

Exceptional five-year-old Dolcetto took his career to another level at Awapuni where he comfortably put away a talented field of black type hopefuls.