Classic Fix for Haunui Farm

Haunui Farm received a timely update for its Zabeel – Destined colt at the upcoming Karaka Premier yearling sale when Fix (NZ) won the G2 Eight Carat Classic on Boxing Day.

Fix (3f Iffraaj – Destined by Danehill) didn’t looked entirely happy in the worsening ground but had too much class for last-start G3 Eulogy Stakes winner Soriano (Savabeel).  She was racing for the first time since a G1 placing in the NZ 1000 Guineas at Riccarton on November 17.

“We elected to go forward and it was a good, tough win,” Matamata trainer Ken Kelso said.  “We had watched the pattern of the racing and if you got back it was hard to run on so we were positive.

“She hadn’t raced for six weeks and missed the Paeroa trials because the ground was too hard.  I gave her a gallop between races at Matamata and, after that, I thought we were back on track.”

Kelso said the next assignment for Fix would be the Royal Stakes or a three-year-old event at the Karaka Million meeting.  The NZ Oaks at Trentham in March is her long-term goal.

Fix was a $220,000 buy for Tirau owner Gary Harding when offered by Haunui Farm and Frantic Bloodstock at the 2011 NZB yearling sale.  The same vendors have catalogued her Zabeel half-sister as Lot 103 at Karaka on January 28.

Their dam Destined has also foaled Galileo’s Destiny (Galileo) who was G1 placed in the South African Derby and South African Classic at Turffontein in 2011.

Fix is from the first (NZ) crop by Haunui Farm shuttler Iffraaj (Zafonic).  “It was a fantastic result for Iffraaj and couldn’t come at a better time with the yearling sales just around the corner,” Haunui general manager Mark Chitty commented.  “And we couldn’t be happier for Gary Harding and Ken and Bev Kelso.  They did all the hard work and selected the filly at Karaka and it is great to see them having success with a filly carrying the HF brand!”

FIX
Haunui Farm graduate wins the G12 Eight Carat Classic