Determined Alamosa Takes Guineas

Determined Alamosa Takes Guineas

Karaka Premier Sale graduate Alamosa (O'Reilly x Lodore Mystic) exhibited grit and determination to emerge the victor of the Group 2 Golan Hawkes Bay Guineas (1400m) at Hastings on Saturday.

Continuing the great form he showed last season, Alamosa proved his five career wins were no fluke to take home his share of the $100,000 purse. Drawing out wide to start from barrier nine, he was ridden to instructions by Gavin McKeon for trainer Peter McKay who owns the colt with his wife Kim McKay and Christchurch-based Trevor Luke.

El Cuento (Tale of the Cat x Royal Celebrity) produced a gallant run to finish second, leading throughout and succumbing by just a short neck after a battle to the final stride while Fritzy Boy (Brilliance x Fritzy Girl) ran on to finish three-quarters-of-a-length back in third.

Alamosa has now raced on ten occasions to record victories in the Group 1 Ford Diamond Stakes, the Listed WRC Wellesley Stakes, plus two stakes placings for earnings of $243,250. The Montego Lodge Partnership bought the colt as a yearling from Waikato Stud at the 2006 Karaka Premier Sale for $60,000.

With Saturday's run being just his second this preparation after winning fresh up at Taupo on 14 September, connections confirmed that Alamosa will be targeted for the Group 1 New Zealand Two-Thousand Guineas at Riccarton on 17 November.

Waikato Stud's Gary Chittick - the reigning New Zealand Breeder of the Year - bred the talented colt who has a half-brother by No Excuse Needed entered in the 2008 Karaka Premier Sale on 28 & 29 January. He has proved to be another example of the Stud's successful O'Reilly/Centaine mare cross which has produced the likes of WATC Derby winner Guyno, outstanding Singapore galloper Arenti and the talented mare Irlanda.

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