On the eve of the 2012 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale, a recent sale graduate emerged as the country’s newest group winner at Morphettville today.
Go the Knuckle, a flashy son of former star galloper Elvstroem, achieved the group win when he led home a quality packed field in the Group Two Euclase Classic (1200m).
The win was impressive considering he was last for a good part of the race and came the widest of all runners with a long, sustained run.
A member of the Mark Minervini stable, Go the Knuckle was purchased by Minervini’s good mate, leading Melbourne based bloodstock agent Kevin Dagg for $47,000 at the 2010 Adelaide Yearling Sale.
The two have been busy inspecting the 2012 offering over the past few days – looking for their next Go the Knuckle.
The Euclase Classic win of the highly talented local galloper provided local senior rider Shayne Cahill with a feature Group Two double following his thrilling win aboard Rialya in the Adelaide Cup.
“I knew Shayne was floating on cloud nine so I didn’t give him any instructions,” Minervini said after the race.
Go the Knuckle, bred by Gerry Harvey and a graduate of Baramul Stud, was sent out at luxury double figure odds despite his eye catching last start second to Euclase Classic second favourite Celebrity Girl in the Redelva Stakes.
No sooner had the Sydney based speedster Satin Shoes stormed to the front in the straight and it was the baldy face of Go the Knuckle who was rapidly making ground on the outside.
At the post Go the Knuckle ($18) held a widening length and a quarter margin over Satin Shoes ($4.40), while Leon Corstens’ runner Snitzem ($15) was a further neck back in third place.
The favourite Zamorar ($2.70) was a further long neck back in fourth place, while the second elect Celebrity Girl ($3.40) was sixth home, just behind Riziz.
“I couldn’t have hoped for a better day,” Cahill said. “I thought both had good chances – but to win both is a dream.”
Go the Knuckle is the second group winner in three days for Elvstroem – the former Australian bred and raced globetrotting star.
On Saturday at Flemington his daughter Instalment scored a thrilling win at Group Three level for the Mark Kavanagh stable.
Today’s winner Go the Knuckle is one of four winners produced by the Sydney placed Zeditave mare Zefta.
A full sister to group winner and successful sire Magic Albert and the group performer Sibyl, Zefta is also the dam of the Melbourne winner Zeftabaa.
From six starts, Go the Knuckle has won three times and been a minor placegetter on two other occasions and earned an ever increasing haul of $227,800.
Baramul Stud has another quality packed draft for the 2012 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale which commences at 11am (SA time) tomorrow (Tuesday).
Winner: Go the Knuckle
Breeding: Elvstroem-Zefta (Zeditave)
Race: SAJC Euclase Classic G2 (1200m)
Sold for: $47,000
Sale: 2010 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale
Vendor: Baramul Stud
Buyer: Kevin Dagg Bloodstock
Earnings: $227,800
Owner(s): RI Chapman, ML Pavlich, N Yeomans & BT Corcoran
Trainer: Mark Minervini (Morphettville)
