Bred by Haunui Farm and long time client Bill Hurlstone, Hardline was a Karaka 2012 May Sale graduate where he was purchased by Hallmark Stud for $43,000.
He returned to Karaka as a yearling in 2014 where he was purchased by Queensland trainer Liam Birchleyout of Hallmark's Select Sale draft for $130,000 and the rest, as the saying goes, is now history.
View Hardline's win by clicking here
A winner at Doomben on debut, Hardline made the road trip to Sydney where he
had a start at Randwick en route to the Karaka Million.Lining up in just his third raceday appearance, Hardline was ridden patiently at the rear of the field by Damien Browne and was clearly in the last three turning for home but the experienced hoop never panicked, let the horse find his feet and when the gaps appeared, drove the strong chestnut colt through to a comfortable half-length win on the line.
Showcasing set a Karaka Million first earlier in the week when he was set to have three runners in the race however, Thursday saw Group Two Wakefield Challenge Stakes-winner Showboy scratched due to injury whilst Wellesley Stakes runner-up Platinum Express sustained injuries on the way to the track and was a late scratching from the event. But, the coveted win still came.
Already New Zealand's Leading First Season Sire, Hardline's win has cemented
Showcasing's place at the top of the First Season Sire tableand has
ensured that his progeny going through New Zealand Bloodstock's sale ring over
the next week, will be in hot demand.Haunui Farm's Mark Chitty says, "It was an amazing thrill to see Hardline win the Karaka Million. I don't think I've ever yelled so loud! What Showcasing has done in the Northern Hemisphere this past year has been great to see and before tonight, the signs here were very encouraging with a horse like Showboy a Group Two-winner and Boodles being unbeaten. He should have had three runners in the race but as fate would have it, he ended up with one but, it's certainly the one that counted!
"I'm just so pleased for all of the members of the syndicate that supported us and bought into Showcasing when we purchased 50% of him and of course, all the breeders that have supported him over the last four seasons. Here's hoping for some nice sale results over the coming week and, we'll take a few more race results like this, that's for sure!"
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