Windsor Park claimed its latest Group 1 when Military Move won the $2.2 million New Zealand Derby on Saturday.
Military Move (3g Volksraad – All Night Party by Just A Dancer) was runner-up to star filly Katie Lee in the NZ 2000 Guineas in November but won the classic that counts at Ellerslie yesterday. He defeated the fast finishing placegetters Corporal Jones (Pentire) and Handsome Zulu (Handsome Ransom) by a length.
His sire Volksraad (Green Desert) has been New Zealand’s Champion Sire seven times which puts him level with Foxbridge. The Derby prizemoney will help him go one better than the legendary Trelawney Stud stallion this season.
A veteran of 14 seasons at Windsor Park in Cambridge, Volksraad has sired 53 stakes winners but Military Move is his first Derby winner.
His chief earner is old marvel Sir Slick with $1.71 million from 21 wins and 28 placings. Military Move zoomed into second spot with $1.50 million after banking $1.30 million yesterday.
Military Move was a $110,000 buy from Amity Lodge at 2008 NZ Bloodstock 2YO Ready to Run Sale at Karaka. Windsor Park Stud had originally sold the youngster for $75,000 at the 2008 NZ Bloodstock Select yearling sale.
His dam All Night Party was trained by Graeme Rogerson and won on both sides of the Tasman. She is a half-sister to Catalan Opening (Kaapstad), a G1 winner of the VRC Chrysler Stakes and AJC Doncaster Mile.
Military Move is trained by Shaun Ritchie for Hong Kong based owner Steven Kit Sing Lo. “He showed talent from day one,” Ritchie said. “He’s a lovely horse and has a great turn of foot.”
Yesterday’s victory continued a family tradition for Ritchie. He strapped Bonecrusher for his father Frank during a golden era for the New Zealanders. Bonecrusher won the 1985 NZ Derby and completed the double in the 1986 AJC Derby before going on to a stellar Group 1 career.
“Military Move is destined for Hong Kong,” Ritchie revealed. “Hopefully we can go across for the Rosehill Guineas and AJC Derby before then.”
The NZ Derby continued the wonderful run being enjoyed by Windsor Park stallions this season. High Chaparral sired So You Think (W S Cox Plate), Monaco Consul (VRC Derby) to G1 victories earlier this season and his Queensland colt Shoot Out has a G1 in his sights at the AJC Easter carnival.
Windsor Park completed a G1 double at Te Rapa in February courtesy of Veloce Bella (Volksraad) in the G1 WFA International Stakes and Tavistock (Montjeu) in the Waikato Draught Sprint.
Elsewhere last month, Golan claimed a G1 when Beauty Flash won the G1 Hong Kong Classic Mile at Sha Tin. He is out of the Volksraad mare Wychwood Rose and was sold by Windsor Park for $65,000 at the 2007 NZ Bloodstock Select Sale.