NZB’s Breeze Ups began on a consistent note at Te Rapa Racecourse on Monday, while Karaka graduates continued to make their mark with notable performances in Australia and New Zealand. From promising two-year-olds preparing for the November Sale to impressive stakes victories by Satono Glow, Fraudster and Zanardi, the latest results highlighted the depth of talent emerging from the Karaka sales programme.
NZB Breeze Ups Record Consistent Times at Te Rapa
A total of 191 two-year-olds breezed up on the opening day at Te Rapa Racecourse, recording an average time of 10.75 seconds over the 200-metre distance. Conditions remained consistent throughout the day, with an overcast morning giving way to fine weather in the afternoon. Wind gusts reached 4.1km/h.
Prima Park enjoyed a particularly encouraging session, with two of its juveniles, Lot 35 and Lot 206, recording the fastest times of the day. Principal Kelly Van Dyk was pleased with the results after months of preparation through a long winter.
Van Dyk praised the horses’ performances and the smooth running of the session, crediting the NZB team and favourable conditions for helping the day proceed without difficulty.
NZB Director of Business Development Mike Kneebone was also encouraged by the consistency displayed across the catalogue, both in the times recorded and in the quality of the juveniles presented.
The Breeze Ups continue on Tuesday, with the second day scheduled to begin at 9.30am at Te Rapa Racecourse. The public is welcome to attend. Official 200-metre times, together with the weather, track and wind conditions recorded for each lot, are available through the NZB website. Official footage is expected to be available by Friday, 16 October, followed by coverage on Trackside in New Zealand and Racing.com in Australia.
Satono Glow Targets Coolmore Stud Stakes After Rosehill Success
Karaka graduate Satono Glow strengthened the case for a start in the Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes after producing a strong come-from-behind victory in the A$300,000 Group Two Roman Consul Stakes over 1200 metres at Rosehill on Saturday.
Purchased for $260,000 by O’Shea Charlton Racing and James Bester Bloodstock from Windsor Park Stud’s Karaka 2025 Book 1 draft, Satono Glow has now recorded four wins from five starts, accumulating A$487,660 in prize money.
The filly had already won the Group Three Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes over 1200 metres and the Group Three Cap d’Antibes Stakes over the same distance. She stepped up to Group Two company with another convincing performance under jockey Zac Lloyd, overcoming Paradoxium in a significant test of her ability.
Trainer O’Shea was pleased with the effort, particularly given the quality of the opposition. The Roman Consul Stakes has historically provided useful form for the Coolmore Stud Stakes, making Saturday’s victory an encouraging step towards the next target.
The Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes will be run over 1200 metres at Flemington on October 31. The team plans to keep Satono Glow in familiar surroundings before travelling to Melbourne, with the aim of maintaining her progress over the coming weeks.
Fraudster Leads Karaka Graduates in Barneswood Farm Stakes
Karaka graduates filled the first two places in Saturday’s $100,000 Group Three Barneswood Farm Stakes over 1400 metres at Ashburton, with Fraudster producing a notable performance to claim the three-year-old contest.
Bred by connections who offered the horse through Book 2 of Karaka 2025, Fraudster was purchased for just $19,000. The son of Profiteer has now recorded three wins and two placings from seven starts, earning $91,485 — nearly five times his original purchase price.
The result also marked an important milestone for Taplin, who secured the first black-type success of his riding career.
Taplin highlighted Fraudster’s toughness and recalled forming a favourable impression of the horse during an earlier ride at Ruakaka. The decision to bring him south for the Ashburton contest ultimately paid off, with the gelding rewarding that confidence in a valuable three-year-old event.
The quinella further underlined the continued presence of Karaka graduates in New Zealand’s major races, with both leading finishers tracing their origins to the auction series.
Zanardi Makes Early Statement Towards Karaka Millions
More than three months before the $1 million Karaka Millions 2YO over 1200 metres at Ellerslie, Zanardi has already given his connections a strong reason to look ahead to the late-January contest.
The colt, a son of Spirit Of Boom, won the $65,000 Buzz Electrics 2YO over 800 metres at Hastings on Saturday, in the first two-year-old race of the season in New Zealand’s North Island. His victory earned $37,375, a return that has historically been sufficient to secure a place in the Karaka Millions field.
Offered by Cambridge Stud in Book 1 of Karaka 2026, Zanardi was purchased by Te Akau Racing principal Sir David Ellis for $280,000. He went into Saturday’s race after an impressive trial victory and was expected to perform well, although his winning effort was not entirely straightforward.
Zanardi was unsettled in the starting gates and missed the jump, leaving his connections with an anxious moment early in the contest. He recovered quickly, worked his way through the field and showed determination in the closing stages to secure victory.
Trainer Bergerson was encouraged by the colt’s ability to overcome those early difficulties, while acknowledging that there is still work to be done before the next major assignment.
The win has eased some of the pressure surrounding Zanardi’s Karaka Millions preparation. His connections can now consider whether to give him another run on Boxing Day or target the Group Two Eclipse Stakes over 1200 metres on New Year’s Day.
Saturday’s other placegetters, Aquila Veloce and Don Giuseppe, are also eligible for the Karaka Millions. Their performances earned $12,025 and $5,850 respectively, keeping them in the conversation as the juvenile season develops.
The next two-year-old race on New Zealand’s calendar is the $40,000 Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series over 800 metres at Riccarton on October 24.
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