Last weekend’s impressive black-type winners Just As Sharp (NZ) (Swiss Ace) and Glamour Tycoon (Written Tycoon) have moved up the order of entry and likely secured spots in the starting gates for the $1.5m TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) at Ellerslie next month.
Just As Sharp made a bold statement in Saturday’s $80,000 Listed Trevor & Corallie Eagle Memorial (1500m) at Te Rapa, overcoming an early stumble and launching a spectacular finish from last to win by three-quarters of a length.
It was the third win of a four-start career for the Swiss Ace gelding, who was bought for $145,000 by Rogerson Bloodstock from the draft of breeders Westbury Stud in Book 1 of Karaka 2022.
“I think he could be a pretty good horse,” co-trainer and part-owner Graeme Rogerson said. “I was disappointed the day he got beaten, but it was Crocetti (NZ) (Zacinto) who beat him. I think, with any luck, he can be a Derby horse.
“He’ll go to the Karaka Millions 3YO next, and then we’ll look at the Derby. I think there is a hell of a lot of improvement still in him.”
Just As Sharp has so far banked $82,510 in prize-money, and his rating has now moved up to 70, placing him in 17th in the order of entry for the TAB Karaka Millions 3YO.
Just ahead of him in equal 15th spot is the 71-rated Glamour Tycoon, who exploded out of the pack to win by two and a half lengths in Saturday’s $80,000 Listed O’Learys Fillies’ Stakes (1340m) at Wanganui.
That was the second win of an eight-start career for Glamour Tycoon, who was a $220,000 purchase by Stephen Marsh Racing from the Book 1 draft of Highline Thoroughbreds at Karaka 2022.
Glamour Tycoon went winless in her first six starts, placing in four of them including a runner-up finish in last season’s Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre 2YO Stakes (1200m). She was also a close fifth in the Group Two Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) in late October, which later produced all of the first seven placegetters in last month’s Group One New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m).
“She had that good form out of the Soliloquy, which is probably the benchmark race for the fillies so far this season,” trainer Stephen Marsh said. “They were all in that race.
“Going to that maiden at Ruakaka after the Soliloquy, I think she just got so much confidence from that win. She’s a different horse.
“She was very dominant (at Wanganui). It was great to see her win like that, and she’s certainly a filly going places.”
Glamour Tycoon shares 15th place on the Karaka Millions 3YO order of entry with Lupo Solitario (NZ) (Satono Aladdin), who is the favourite for this Saturday’s $120,000 Group Three Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) at Pukekohe.
New Zealand 1000 Guineas winner Molly Bloom (NZ) (Ace High) heads the order of entry with a rating of 84. Last year’s $1m Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) winner Tokyo Tycoon (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) is just behind her in second, followed by the recent Group One second placegetters Impendabelle (Impending) and Talisker (NZ) (Embellish). Three horses share equal fifth place with a rating of 75 – Zourion (NZ) (Zoustar), To Catch A Thief (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) and Trobriand (Kermadec).
The TAB Karaka Millions 3YO will be run at Ellerslie on January 27, as part of a blockbuster twilight programme that also features the $1m TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) and the inaugural running of the $1m Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic 4YO (1600m).
