4 Stakes Performers = Big Day for Haunui Grads

A stakes success is always one to savour but the 5^th of December saw four stakes performing graduates for Haunui Farm, including a second stakes performer in the Southern Hemisphere for exciting young stallion, BELARDO (IRE) (Lope de Vega).

Two-year-old filly Fonsalette (NZ) (Belardo) got the ball rolling in the G2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes over 1100m. Lining up at just her second start, the outside barrier looked to be a major hinderance as she settled toward the rear of the field. Under an astute ride from Danielle Johnson, the filly put in the hard yards in the straight to get within a half-length of the winner who dictated the race from the front.

A member of the Haunui foundation family, Fonsalette joined Welcome Stakes-winner AVONALLO (NZ) (Belardo) on BELARDO’s list of stakes performers which now sits at seven – five in the North and two in the South. She is a graduate of our 2020 Book 2 draft sold for $40,000.

At Ellerslie, Karaka Million placegetter Appellant (NZ) (Showcasing) made a welcome return back to the winners circle in the third on the card but it was three races later, in the G3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) for 3YO’s, that saw a Haunui grad quinella with the Jenna Mahoney-trained OPALESCENCE (NZ) (Showcasing) coming out on top of Jason Belltree (NZ) (Ferlax). OPALESCENCE was a Gavelhouse purchase whilst Jason Belltree was sold through our 2018 May Sale weanling draft.

Rounding out the day, BOOMBA (NZ) (Showcasing) - pictured - landed the G2 Golden Horsehoe in Singapore over 1200m, the second Haunui graduate to win the race in recent times following in the footsteps of BE BEE (NZ) (Showcasing) in 2017. Bred by the Moore family’s Soliloquy Lodge, he was a $100,000 purchase by trainer Cliff Brown from our 2019 Book 1 draft.

With 11 stakes performers already in the current season, Haunui Farm heads to Karaka in January 2021 with another strong draft of yearlings. Parades are already underway and if you’d like to view the Haunui yearlings at any stage leading into Karaka, please call Mark – 021 663 995, or Shannon – 0212 855 513.