Breeding & Racing Magazine

Military Move Wins Gr1 NZ Derby

In New Zealand, Windsor Park Stud's 7-time NZ champion sire Volksraad (Green Desert-Celtic Assembly, by Secretariat) added a Gr1 triumph (& 53rd individual stakes-winner) when gelded son Military Move (Volksraad-All Night Party, by Just A Dancer) scored a 1-length victory in the NZ$2.2 million Gr1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) for 3YOs at Ellerslie in Auckland. Military Move (ridden by Michael Walker for trainer Shaune Ritchie) defeated fellow geldings Corporal Jones (Pentire-Assesarose, by Conquistarose) & Handsome Zulu (Handsome Ransom-Bionic Eagle, by Omnicorp). Military Move (a NZ$75,000 yearling at the 2008 NZ Bloodstock Select Sale at Karaka & subsequently a NZ$110,000 2YO at the 2008 NZ Bloodstock Ready-To-Run Sale) took his record to 2 wins & 3 placings (in 2009's Gr1 NZ 2000 Guineas over 1600m at Riccarton Park, Gr2 NZ Bloodstock Wellington Thoroughbred Breeders Guineas over 1500m at Trentham & Listed Bonecrusher Stakes over 1400m at Ellerslie) from 8 starts for NZ$1,502,775 earnings.