Military Move (NZ) wins Gr.1 Telecom New Zealand Derby (2400m)
Military Move (NZ)
Windsor Park Stud’s champion stallion Volksraad (GB) returned to his accustomed position at the very top of the Grosvenor Award on Saturday, after his handsome son Military Move (NZ) out gunned rivals in the NZ$2.2 mil Gr.1 Telecom New Zealand Derby (2400m).
Leap-frogging Pins on the table for the highest stakes earnings accrued in New Zealand, Volksraad looks well poised for a remarkable 8th Award title, with his current NZ$578,976 advantage suggesting he should level up to St Leger’s record of 8 New Zealand’s Sire Premierships at season close.
Injecting $1,300,000 into this pool on Saturday, the Shaune Ritchie-trained galloper Military Move (NZ) duly anchored himself as Volksraad’s best NZ performer of the season to date.
Ridden handy to the pace by Michael Walker, Military Move (NZ) ranged up to the pacemaking Time Keeper (NZ) (Stravinsky) with 300m to run, and with victory in sight, surged clear to claim New Zealand’s richest classic by a length.
Flying home late, Corporal Jones (NZ) (Pentire) made up plenty of ground in the straight for second, narrowly denying Handsome Zulu (NZ) (Handsome Ransom) the second place honours by a nose.
Now owned by Hong Kong man Steven Kit Sing Lo, Military Move (NZ) was originally purchased by New Zealand Bloodstock at the 2008 Select Yearling Sale for $75,000.
He returned to the Karaka arena later that year as a member of the Amity Lodge draft, this time being successful secured by agent Phil Cataldo for Almond Lee at the 2008 Ready to Run Sale of 2YO’s for $110,000.
Bound for Hong Kong, where the obvious target will be the Hong Derby at four, Military Move (NZ) will take with him a smart NZ race record.
Prior to his Gr.1 Derby triumph, Military Move (NZ) debuted for success at Taupo last August, was 2nd at his second start in the Listed Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m), was third at his third start in the Gr.2 Wellington Guineas (1600m) and was strongly distinguished when racing home for second in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas.
Bred by Windsor Park Stud, Military Move (NZ) represented the 12th individual Gr.1 winner for resident sire Volksraad – a sire who beyond counting 53 stakes winners, boasts a winners-to-runners ratio of 67%.
Military Move’s dam, All Night Party (NZ) (Just A Dancer), is a three time winning half-sister to the dual Gr.1 galloper Catalan Opening and has to date produced two winners from three two race.
All Night Party has a Kings Chapel colt at foot and a filly by the same sire was astutely purchased by David Ellis at the 2009 Select Yearling Sale for $20,000.