Australian bred Lucky Owners two year-old The Heckler carried off New Zealand’s rich Karaka Million race back in January and added to that success when capturing the Group One Awapuni Ford Sires’ Produce Stakes in New Zealand on Saturday.

Considered unlucky at his previous run when fourth in the Group One Ford Diamond Stakes over 1200 metres at Ellerslie, The Heckler was ridden forward this time from the gates and led comfortably, kicking strongly at the top of the straight and then holding off a late challenge from the Dehere (USA) colt St Fevre to win by a short head.

Trained by Murray and Bjorn Baker, The Heckler (pictured) has now won three of five starts earning $696,450 in prizemoney for his fortunate owners Peter Walker, Alistair Sutherland, Tony Timpson and Sir Patrick Hogan of Cambridge Stud, who also bred The Heckler’s sire Lucky Owners.

Bred in Australia, The Heckler was purchased from the 2007 Inglis Select Weanling sale for $26,000 and was then successfully re-offered for sale by Woodridge Farm at the NZB Select Yearling Sale where he was secured by part-owner Peter Walker for $70,000.

The Heckler is a half-brother to two winners being from stakes-placed Rory’s Jester mare Comedy Café, a half-sister to stakes-winner Pompous from the family of Group One winning sprinters Grandiose and Alishan.

He is the first stakes-winner and becomes the first Group One winner for Champion HK Miler Lucky Owners (pictured) , who stands at Widden Stud at a fee of $13,200 and has already sired a number of promising horses in stakes-placed Lucky Thunder and Lucky Kentucky, along with metropolitan winners Lucky Omens, Double Reward and Soho Secret.

By legendary sire Danehill (USA) from the Kaapstad mare Miss Priority, a three-quarter-sister to champion racehorse Might and Power, Lucky Owners was sold by Cambridge Stud at the 2001 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale for $350,000 and raced exclusively in Hong Kong for his owner Mr Leung, becoming a superstar for the Tony Cruz stable.

Rated the Champion Miler in Hong Kong in 2004, Lucky Owners won the Group One HK International Mile and Hong Kong Derby in the same season, retiring with the phenomenal record of eight wins and four seconds from 13 starts.