A determined win by Lupo Solitario in the Group 3 Manco Easter Handicap at Ellerslie has highlighted the strength of Kingmakers Director's 2022 Karaka selections and processes.
The Satono Aladdin five-year-old, finishing strongly over the classic mile to hold off a late challenge by Top Shelf (Savabeel). It was another resilient performance from a horse whose career has been carefully managed.
The result underscores a notable achievement for Howl: both Lupo Solitario and Group One performer Ceolwulf were sourced from the same 2022 Karaka Sales year, yet have followed very different paths to success in New Zealand and Australia.
Lupo Solitario, purchased for $82,500 from Karaka's Yearling Sale, Book 2, was identified by Howl as the best Satono Aladdin colt at Karaka with long-term upside for his ten owners. He was placed on a structured development path with trainer Danica Guy and jockey Erin Leighton, targeting spring black-type success and the idea of a future international sale.
Ceolwulf was secured later that year for $170,000 from the Ready to Run Sale in a separate deal with Sydney trainer Joe Pride. The attractive Tavistock colt, out of the Shamardal mare Las Brisas, was independently shortlisted by both Howl and Pride as a 'must have' before they agreed to purchase him.
The two black type 3 year-olds represent a rare dual success from a single sales cycle, with one progressing through a New Zealand-based syndication model with Hong Kong resale value in mind, the other reaching elite Australian Group One level - which Howl retained an ownership share in.
Trained by Matamata horsewoman Danica Guy, Lupo Solitario developed into a stakes performer, winning the Group 2 Bonecrusher Stakes and competing in feature races including the Karaka Million 3YO. He was later sold to Hong Kong interests in a seven-figure deal, with owners reportedly receiving around $1,176,000 in combined stake earnings plus a substantial capital return.
Ceolwulf has followed a different trajectory, progressing through the Sydney system under Joe Pride. He ran second in both the Rosehill Guineas and Australian Derby as a 3 year-old before winning the Epsom Handicap at Randwick. He then quickly added three more Group One wins to his name, including a successful defence of his King Charles’ Stakes crown. He was a stakes winning machine over 24 big months with the ten owners reportedly receiving around $13 million (NZD) in combined stake earnings, including a $750,000 Emerald Bonus.
The success of both horses from the same sales year further strengthens Howl’s reputation for identifying and buying high-level talent for different racing jurisdictions in NZ and AUS. It also reinforces the philosophy behind the Kingmakers' Direcotors disciplined selection process, to deliver unique horses for owners different needs.
Finding special horses, with interesting pedigrees, quality traits and the biomechanics to move well, and perform is not an easy task. Kingmakers Syndication's director, Leighton Howl is certainly off to a flying start!
