Lot 1183, a Jimmy Choux filly
Photo- Trish Dunell
Fresh from victory in the rich Listed Karaka Million at Ellerslie with 2015 Karaka sale graduate Xiong Feng, trainer Stephen McKee is already eying up a second million dollar prize in 2018.
McKee outlaid $52,500 for Lot 1183, a Jimmy Choux filly he believes looks a likely candidate for the Karaka Three-Year-Old Mile which will become New Zealand's second million dollar race from 2018 onwards.
The filly hails from an extended family that includes outstanding three-year-old filly Ad Alta who numbered the Gr. 1 One Thousand Guineas amongst her seven career victories.
McKee, who has been active across each session of this year's National Yearling Sale Series, was taken by the athletic daughter of Kaapstad mare Zuri when he first saw her during his inspection of the Festival session offerings on Saturday.
"She really caught my eye when we looking around on Saturday as she is such a well balanced filly who moves superbly," he said.
"I doubt whether she is a natural two-year-old but I can certainly see her being a lovely three-year-old."
McKee admitted the opportunity to race for a second major prize attached to the Karaka sales graduates was a factor in his buying decisions.
"I think the move to offer a second million dollar race is a huge benefit to buying here at Karaka," he said.
"It just opens up so many more possibilities with the type of horses New Zealand is so adept at breeding so we have definitely had an eye on that prize this week.
"The depth of this year's catalogue has been very impressive and the buying has been tough. I would say this is the best catalogue across each sale that I've seen for a number of years."
McKee had earlier purchased an Iffraaj filly for $28,000 along with a Power filly for $21,000 and followed that up by outlaying $55,000 for a Dalghar colt later in the session. – NZ Racing Desk
McKee outlaid $52,500 for Lot 1183, a Jimmy Choux filly he believes looks a likely candidate for the Karaka Three-Year-Old Mile which will become New Zealand's second million dollar race from 2018 onwards.
The filly hails from an extended family that includes outstanding three-year-old filly Ad Alta who numbered the Gr. 1 One Thousand Guineas amongst her seven career victories.
McKee, who has been active across each session of this year's National Yearling Sale Series, was taken by the athletic daughter of Kaapstad mare Zuri when he first saw her during his inspection of the Festival session offerings on Saturday.
"She really caught my eye when we looking around on Saturday as she is such a well balanced filly who moves superbly," he said.
"I doubt whether she is a natural two-year-old but I can certainly see her being a lovely three-year-old."
McKee admitted the opportunity to race for a second major prize attached to the Karaka sales graduates was a factor in his buying decisions.
"I think the move to offer a second million dollar race is a huge benefit to buying here at Karaka," he said.
"It just opens up so many more possibilities with the type of horses New Zealand is so adept at breeding so we have definitely had an eye on that prize this week.
"The depth of this year's catalogue has been very impressive and the buying has been tough. I would say this is the best catalogue across each sale that I've seen for a number of years."
McKee had earlier purchased an Iffraaj filly for $28,000 along with a Power filly for $21,000 and followed that up by outlaying $55,000 for a Dalghar colt later in the session. – NZ Racing Desk