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Fastnet Rock colt Long Leaf became the first Australian trained 3YO to win the $1m Karaka Million Classic at Ellerslie on Saturday.
A $NZ750,000 Karaka Premier Sale purchase by BBA Ireland, Long Leaf is trained by David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig for an ownership group that includes New Zealand Bloodstock co-founder Sir Peter Vela along with Coolmore Stud’s MV Magnier, Demi O’Byrne and Michael Kirwan.
Long Leaf was ridden by James McDonald, the former star New Zealand jockey now based in Sydney. McDonald has had a long and successful partnership with Sir Peter Vela with his wins for the leading owner including a G1 Telegraph with Guiseppina.McDonald brought Long Leaf across from his wide gate to settle nicely in midfield. The Real Beel (Savabeel) circled the field and hit the lead at the top of the straight before Long Leaf charged through on her inside to win by a neck.
Dual G1 winner Madison County (Pins) ran on gamely out wide for a close third.“It’s a great thrill for Sir Peter Vela and the Coolmore boys,” McDonald said. “He’s a super horse and we got the result.”
“To get a result for this team has been a great thrill.”Vela was an instigator of the Karaka Million concept, which is growing in popularity with every passing year.
“I am more excited, believe it or not, about the magnificence of the night and the number of people here enjoying it,” he said.“It’s a concept that was a risk but it’s more than vindicated a lot of opinions. A lot of people helped us and there are a lot of people who deserve thanks for it.”
Long Leaf (Fastnet Rock x Frustrating by Stravinsky) has now had 14 starts for four wins, four placings and $960,269 in prizemoney.Runner-up The Real Beel cost $110,000 at the 2017 Karaka Premier Sale and picked up $150,000 in prizemoney, lifting her total earnings to $182,950.
Madison County, bought for just $36,000 at the 2017 Karaka Select Sale, has earned $592,935 in his eight start.Sold by Curraghmore for breeders Caradale Pty Ltd, Long Leaf is from the Stravinsky mare Frustrating, a member of an illustrious family being a daughter of the former New Zealand Broodmare of the Year Parfore (Gold Brose).
Parfore is also the dam of G1 winners Tiger Tees (Dubawi), Terravista (Captain Rio) and Super Easy (Darci Brahma), G2 winner Ball Of Muscle (Dubawi) and Our Lukas (Generous), who won 12 races including four Listed events.Frustrating has a 2YO full sister to Long Leaf who was sold for $1,150,000 at last year’s Australian Easter Yearling Sale to James Bester Bloodstock.
She also has a weanling brother to Long Leaf and was covered again by Fastnet Rock last spring.