26 Dec 2021We were delighted to get on the board early on the opening day of the Christmas carnival at Ellerslie this afternoon with Grace ‘n’ Grey successful in the juvenile event over 1100 metres.
While the Jamie Richards-trained filly was a dominant winner to book a berth in the Listed Karaka Million, there was also a ton of merit in the effort of her stablemate Dynastic, who was a gallant second.
Grace ‘n’ Grey was quickly into stride and kicked strongly in the straight to have a length and a-quarter on Dynastic, a good-looking son of Almanzor who fought on bravely after racing three wide in his debut performance.
“The filly was able to jump well and Danielle (Johnson) did well to dictate up front. She still lacks a bit of ring craft so it was good to give her a look around Ellerslie before the Karaka Million,” Richards said.
“Dynastic did it tough and I was really pleased with his effort. I’ve got a lot of time for him and he’s on the cusp to get in the Million.”
We bred Grace ‘n’ Grey with David Redvers Bloodstock and she was sold to Te Akau’s David Ellis for $240,000 at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale.
By Spirit Of Boom, she is the first foal of the winning Redoute’s Choice mare Gracious Grey, a half-sister to the G2 Emancipation Stakes winner Positive Peace. Gracious Grey has since produced a Written Tycoon filly, a colt by Pierro and is currently in foal to Almanzor.
Gracious Grey was purchased carrying Grace 'n' Grey at the 2019 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale in partnership with David Redver's and Bruce Perry Bloodstock.