High Chaparral’s Group 1 performers have shone the spotlight on his 45 yearlings nominated for the NZ Bloodstock National Yearling Sales Series at Karaka in January.

A New Zealand bred trifecta in the Caulfield Cup headlined a winning weekend for the Kiwis in Australia.  High Chaparral’s sons Descarado and Monaco Consul collected the lion’s share of the $2.50 million prizemoney in the Group 1 BMW Caulfield Cup.

The Coolmore shuttler has now sired 22 stakes winners and his superstar So You Think will defend his Cox Plate title on Saturday.

In a showcase of New Zealand staying talent Descarado, fought off a brave challenge from fellow NZ bred stayer Harris Tweed (Montjeu) to take the Caulfield Cup by a length.  Monaco Consul was not disgraced in third place.

Harris Tweed’s trainers Murray and Bjorn Baker had won the $45,000 Listed Lion Red Plate at Rotorua with Twilight Saving earlier in the day.  

“We just do not seem to be able to crack the big one in Australia,” Bjorn Baker said.  “But that may come on the first Tuesday in November. He will now go straight into the Melbourne Cup.”

Fellow Karaka graduate Our Lukas claimed a Listed victory on Sunday in the Darley Seymour Cup (1600m).  He is trained by Robert Heathcote and has now won five stakes races and $619,650.  The son of Generous was purchased for $20,000 by Paul Willetts at the 2005 NZ Bloodstock Select Sale from Westbury Stud.

The National Yearling Sales Series runs from 31 January – 7 February 2011 with catalogues out 26 November.