Racing: Kindacross to join Cruz team

Hong Kong horse trainer Tony Cruz apparently wasn't satisfied with taking over one of New Zealand's better three-year-olds.

Last week, it was announced that clients of the Cruz stable had agreed to the purchase of the highly regarded Cheval De Troy.

Yesterday, it was confirmed that Cruz clients had also bought New Zealand's top rated 2-year-old, Kindacross.

The sale of Cheval De Troy was for an undisclosed seven-figure sum and the Waikato Times believes the price of Kindacross was at least $1 million.

The sale of the both horses was negotiated by bloodstock agent Stuart Hale of Cambridge.

Cruz is the trainer of Hong Kong's champion sprinter Silent Witness, unbeaten from 17 starts.

Kindacross was trained in the Waikato by Mark Walker of Matamata and the Cape Cross gelding finished his first season of racing with a record of eight starts for five wins, a third and a fourth. Stake earnings were $183,000.

He wound up the season with victory in the group one $120,000 Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m) at Awapuni in Palmerston North on April 16.

That win saw Kindacross earning a New Zealand Thoroughbred rating of 94, ranking him ahead of Mi Jubilee and Wahib, both on 92, and his stablemate Darci Brahma on 90.

The latter three had beaten Kindacross when he was fourth in the Ellerslie Sires' Produce Stakes (1200m) on March 5.

Kindacross won his first three starts earlier in the season and his other win came in the group three $45,000 Ford 2yo Classic (1200m) at New Plymouth on April 2.

Kindacross was raced by Stan Alexander, Sue Forrest, David McDonald, Gail Temperton and Val Twiname, all of Auckland, and Derek Stephens and Dan Symonds from Taumarunui.

The syndicate was managed by David Ellis of Te Akau Racing, for which Walker trains. Ellis paid $62,500 for the horse at last year's National Yearling Sales at Karaka in South Auckland.

Said Ellis: "It is tremendous for the New Zealand bloodstock industry for horses of this calibre to be representing us in such an important racing environment.

"Obviously the reputation of our horses in Hong Kong has made them a very saleable commodity.

"While it is sad for his owners and the rest of our organisation to farewell such a marvellous horse, it is reassuring to know that he is going to one of the best in the business."

Hong Kong buy

* Kindacross is the top 2-year-old this season.

* The Cape Cross gelding had eight starts for five wins, a third and a fourth in his first season.

* His purchase price is believed to top $1 million.

- NZPA