Quality colt on track for greater honours

16th Sep 2012

Class rose to the top at Ruakaka on Saturday where Sacred Falls (NZ) (O’Reilly) sounded an ominous warning to his future three-year-old opposition.

The well-related colt was unbeaten in two juvenile appearances last season and he continued on where he’d left off with an impressive performance to claim the Listed Westbury Stud Challenge Stakes.

Sacred Falls (NZ) (O’Reilly)

Any pre-race concerns co-trainer Tony Pike had about drawing the rails with Sacred Falls were dispelled when he settled kindly behind the pace for rider Leith Innes, who was able to angle into the clear on straightening.

The three-year-old showed his quality in the run home and went to the post powerfully to keep his unbeaten record intact and remain on target for Group race honours for owners Raffles Dancers.

His dam Iguazu’s Girl (NZ) (Redoute’s Choice) won two races and is a half-sister to the Gr.3 Thoroughbred Club Stakes winner and Gr.1 Ascot Vale Stakes runner-up Splashing Out (NZ) (O’Reilly), the dam of the Gr.2 Angus Armanasco Stakes winner Shopaholic (NZ) (Pins).

Pike said Sacred Falls possessed an ideal temperament and would derive marked improvement from the Ruakaka outing. His next start will be in the Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas at Hastings on October 6 and would then head south to Riccarton for the Gr.1 Two Thousand Guineas a month later.

Southern Lord (Stratum) chased gamely to finish second behind Sacred Falls (NZ) and bridge the gap to black-type company after gaining his first win on the track in July.

Travino (General Nediym), a dual stakes winner last season, did his future prospects no harm either with his third placing. He settled back in the field and closed gamely in the straight after striking trouble near the home bend.

D’Cash Man (NZ) (D’Cash) showed a torrent of speed to make the running and he fought on commendably to take fourth ahead of possible Gr.1 Spring Champion Stakes contender King Zeus (NZ) (Thorn Park) who was doing his best work late.