Bachelor Duke claimed a weekend double when Shuka won the LR Ray Coupland Stakes (1400m) at Ashburton on Sunday.

The Oaks Stud resident had sired Charlie’s Angel to victory in the BNZ Rotorua Hcp at Arawa Park on Saturday.

Shuka (3g Bachelor Duke – Alabama Rose by Cape Cross) had won the G2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1200m) last season and he was too strong for Rock ‘n’ Pop (Fastnet Rock) on Sunday.

Shuka went into the race after running a good third first-up to Final Touch at Riccarton in September.  He is trained by Peter and Dawn Williams for Parr Bloodstock and has now won three races in seven starts.

Bred by The Oaks owner Dick Karreman, he was purchased by NZ Bloodstock as agent for $20,000 at the 2010 Karaka Select Sale.  His second dam Alabama Whirly was a G1 winner of the Karrakatta Plate in Perth 15 years ago.

Shuka is one of five stakes winners for Bachelor Duke who has five entries in the upcoming NZB Ready to Run Sale.

Bachelor Duke (Miswaki) was a G1 winner of the 2004 Irish 2000 Guineas and was New Zealand’s leading first-season sire in 2007-08.  He remained at the Oaks Stud last year instead of travelling back to Ballylinch Stud in Ireland.