Karaka Graduates Dominate Randwick Guineas

New Zealand-breds and Karaka graduates have made a spectacular start to the showpiece 3YO races of the Sydney autumn carnival, and that dominance continued on Saturday with a superb quinella in the $1 million Gr1 Randwick Guineas (1600m). Two weeks on from a triumphant Australian debut by Kiwi star Aegon (NZ) (Sacred Falls) in the Gr2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m), Karaka graduates Lion’s Roar (NZ) (Contributer) and Mo’unga (NZ) (Savabeel) rose above Saturday’s star-studded Group 1 Guineas field with exceptional come-from-behind performances. Owners Champion Thoroughbreds paid $65,000 to purchase Lion’s Roar from the draft of Wellfield Lodge in Book 2 of Karaka 2019. Saturday’s Group 1 triumph was a new pinnacle in his seven-start career, which previously featured a Group 1 placing in the Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick in October. Lion’s Roar has now earned A$839,870 in stakes – more than 13 times his purchase price. Runner-up Mo’unga was a $325,000 purchase from Book 1 of Karaka 2019. He has had six starts for three wins and two placings, amassing $349,290 in stakes so far in his short career.