All Roads lead to Karaka

ALL ROADS LEAD TO KARAKA                                                              By Paul Vettise

 
All roads lead to Karaka next month for Kilgravin Lodge as their grand final looms with a quality consignment of young talent bound for the auction ring.
The NZB Ready To Run Sale on November 16 and 17 has become the most significant event on the Matamata operation’s calendar.
"Everything we do during the year is aimed at this sale and we've become even more focussed on it in recent times," principal Eion Kemp said.
"We have a very good and loyal client base and they put all their trust in us and we're very appreciative of that.
"We've purposefully bought horses throughout Australia and New Zealand for this sale.
"We're genuine and realistic vendors and it's about turning them over so we're very much there to sell."
Established eight years ago, Kilgravin Lodge's reputation as a centre of excellence has steadily grown with graduates making their mark across Australasia and Asia.
Those to have come through the system include Gr 1 winners Jessicabeel (Sydney Cup), Fully Fledged (Ford Diamond Stakes), Floral Pegasus (Hong Kong Classic Mile, Chinese Club Challenge Cup) and Green Birdie (Singapore KrisFlyer Sprint).
Guillotine (Gr 2 Feehan Stakes), dual stakes-winner Gorky Park, the talented Singapore galloper Protege and the progressive Fantastic Jaw have been other high-profile performers.
Kilgravin, which also breaks in more than 120 horses a year as well as pre-training and agistment services, has steadily increased its presence at the RTR Sale.
This year's draft features an impressive cross-section of two-year-olds representing Australasia's most commercial sire lines.
Kemp nominated Lot 207, a gelded son of the Nureyev stallion Pure Theatre, as one of their premier offerings.
"He's an outstanding individual," he said. "He'll suit Hong Kong or Singapore and looks like a real Derby type of horse."
A Volksraad colt (Lot 70) from the prolific Gr 1 family of Solveig (NZ Oaks, DB 1600), Gallic (Sydney Cup), Culminate (Otaki-Maori WFA), Captivate (NZ Breeders' Stakes) and Eileen Dubh (Levin Classic) is very much in the mould of his champion sire.  
"He's a typical Volksraad and he's progressed really well throughout the year and developed into a smart type with ability," Kemp said.
"The Shinko King (Lot 110) is another nice, strong fellow with a good attitude who does everything right."
Kemp said the Australian-bred Oratorio colt (Lot 289) was a lovely horse with speed to burn while the O'Reilly-The Wake colt (Lot 109) was another cracking prospect.
Lot388 is a chestnut son of No Excuse Needed and the O’Reilly mare Liliane and represents the Waikato Stud cross that has already produced multiple Gr 1 winner Daffodil and stakes-winners Masquerade and Takeanotherchance.
The consignment will further feature sons of Savabeel, Thorn Park, Dubai Destination, Lucky Unicorn, Darci Brahma, Dehere, Fast 'N' Famous, One Cool Cat, Ishiguru and Keeninsky with the draft completed by a daughter of Lucky Unicorn.
Originally from Wanganui - where his father held an owner-trainer's licence - Kemp rode trackwork while at school and success followed as an amateur rider with victory in the much sought-after Duke of Gloucester Cup.
He subsequently graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree and a diploma in Horse Business Management from Australia's Marcus Oldham College.
His academic qualifications were then complemented by valuable practical experience at Cambridge and Waikato Studs, Watson Bloodstock, Antrim Lodge and with well-known Matamata horseman Paul Jenkins.
Since branching out in their own right, Kemp and wife Megan have significantly developed the 75-acre Kilgravin Lodge.
The complex now features a purpose-built barn housing 23 boxes with 26 day yards, spelling paddocks, a 750 metre sand track with starting gates, a covered horse walker and a high-walled lunging arena.