The G2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes is a great pointer for NZ’s top two year-olds and leading the way at Trentham this year was Shuka.  A total of eight Wakefield winners have gone on to G1 glory in the last 16 years and Shuka isn’t out of place on the honour-roll.

Shuka (2g Bachelor Duke – Alabama Rose by Cape Cross) is raced by Parr Bloodstock and he came home comfortably under Opie Bosson clocking 69.34s for 1200m.  Second was The Great Snowman (Brilliance) ahead of Orutan (Pins).

Shuka is trained by Peter and Dawn Williams and entered last Saturday’s race with a win from two starts.  He is by Dick Karreman’s The Oaks Stud resident Bachelor Duke and was a mere $20,000 buy at the 2010 NZB Select Yearling Sale.

Bachelor Duke (USA) has three southern-hemisphere with Shuka leading the way along with previous G2 winnewrs Keyora and Obsession.  Shuka’s dam Alabama Rose is a daughter of Perth G1 winner Alabama Whirly.

At Karaka he will be represented by 19 yearlings at the Select Sale and 17 yearlings at the Festival Sale.