The
flags of the Kiwi breeding industry and New Zealand Bloodstock flew high yet
again in the A$2 million Group 1 BMW Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick on
Saturday.
Jon
Snow (NZ) (Iffraaj) became the third Karaka graduate in a row to win
the Randwick classic, following in the footsteps of the $60,000 Premier Sale
purchase Tavago (NZ) (Tavistock) and the $220,000 Ready to Run
Sale graduate Mongolian
Khan (Holy Roman Emperor).
Purchased for $65,000 at the 2015 Select Sale by co-trainer Andrew Forsman, Jon
Snow was an admirably consistent performer through the New Zealand season with
placings in the Group 2 Hawke's Bay Guineas, Group 2 Great Northern Guineas,
Group 1 Levin Classic, Listed Karaka 3YO Mile and Group 1 New Zealand Derby.
But the Iffraaj colt has come of age since travelling to Sydney, winning the
Group 2 Tulloch Stakes and Group 1 Australian Derby within the space of a week.
Ridden by Damian Lane, Jon Snow was handy to the pace throughout the 2400-metre
contest before surging to the lead in the straight and fighting off all
challengers to win by three-quarters of a length.
Raced by the Zame Partnership, Jon Snow has now won three of his 11 starts and
more than $1.57 million in prizemoney – around 24 times his purchase price.
"He only cost us $65,000," said Forsman, who trains Jon Snow in partnership
with Murray Baker. "The whole journey has been a great thrill. It's been a
great ride for this horse with the owners.
"He won so well in the Tulloch last week, he just bounced through the run and
his work on Thursday morning was brilliant. He pulled up well. Everything has
gone so well since he came over here."
Jon Snow was bred by Richard Moore. He is out of the O'Reilly mare Orinda (NZ) and descends from the Moore family's famous line that includes such
illustrious performers as Solveig, Soliloquy, Greig, Soltanto and many more.
The Derby was the second Group 1 win of the day on Saturday for Haunui Farm
sale graduates. Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands), bought for $57,500 at the 2016
Premier Sale, won the Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m) at Awapuni.
Kiwi bred and sold horses have won eight of the last ten runnings of the Group
1 Australian Derby.
Jon Snow was the fourth Australian Derby winner for Baker, who previously won
it with Nom Du Jeu (NZ) (Montjeu), Dundeel (NZ) (High
Chaparral) and Mongolian Khan.
The win completed a big double in Sydney's feature three-year-old races for
Karaka graduates, with the New Zealand Derby hero Gingernuts (NZ) (Iffraaj) winning the Rosehill Guineas two weeks earlier.
News from New Zealand Bloodstock