Trish Dunell
Hard Merchandize (Burgundy- Pride and Passion by Encosta De Lago) joined Sydney Group 3 winner Addictive Nature (Savabeel-Generous Nature by Carnegie) as early group winners from LA’s 2016 Karaka National Yearling Sale drafts following his courageous all the way success in Saturday’s 1400m Group 2 Sacred Falls Hawkes Bay Guineas at Hastings.
The Christopher and Susannah Grace bred three-year-old, who won last season’s Listed Castletown Stakes, was purchased for $38,000 from LA’s 2016 Select Sale draft by his trainer and part owner Gary Vile. Hard Merchandize joins 2003 victor Shastri as winners of the time honoured semi-classic offered for sale at Karaka by LA.
And to wrap a successful weekend, kick started on Friday night by the exciting Moonee Valley win of the unbeaten Princeton Spirit (Nadeem-Ivy Hall by Towkay), progressive Per Incanto four-year-old Amanaat (Per Incanto-Mazij by General Nediym) registered consecutive victories with a four and a half length win in Queensland on Saturday setting a new class record. The Shadwell Stud bred gelding has now won three of his six career starts.