Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)
A chance purchase at Karaka has proved to be an outstanding piece of business for Waikato breeders and owners Ross and Corrine Kearney.
While wandering around the complex, a winning daughter of Conatus caught their attention and they followed through to secure Signorina for $6,000 out of Westbury Stud’s draft at New Zealand Bloodstock’s Broodmare Sale.
She has proved to be a gem for the couple with Saturday’s Listed Armacup Stakes (1500m) winner Checkmate, who is raced under their Okaharau Station banner, her latest success story.
“She’s been fantastic, it was a bit of a spur of the moment job,” Ross Kearney said.
“We didn’t actually go to the sale to look at her but saw her being paraded and thought we like her and got her with a last bid, we had decided that was enough.”
She was in foal to Swiss Ace and the result was Jodelin Gal, who won seven races and placed in the Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) and the Listed Tauranga Classic (1400m), and is now in foal to Paddington.
Signorina’s visit to Mongolian Khan then produced Bankers Choice, who won five of his first 10 starts from Stephen Marsh’s stable and culminating in success in the Gr.3 Thompson Handicap (1600m).
He was subsequently sold to clients of Michael Moroney’s Flemington stable with the Kearneys remaining in the ownership group.
“We’ve still got shares in him and (three-time winner) Grand Impact, Bankers Choice’s next race will be the Ballarat Cup (Listed, 2000m),” he said.
His last win was in the 2022 edition of the race, and he’s also been a multiple stakes placegetter, including a third in the Gr.1 Toorak Handicap (1600m), since relocating across the Tasman.
“He hasn’t been racing very well this spring, but in his last race at Moonee Valley he did look a bit sharper.”
His brother Checkmate has posted consecutive wins following a debut second for trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott to attract buyer interest.
“At this stage he is looking good, we had a phone call before the race and they decided not to proceed,” Kearney said.
“He’s coming home for a few days now to have a rest and put his feet up.”
A slot in the $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) is likely to be the aim for Checkmate, who also has younger half-siblings coming through.
“We’ve got an Ace High two-year-old in training, she’s with Janenne Dalley who generally breaks in our horses,” Kearney said.
“The mare’s also got a Vadamos yearling who was a feisty wee boy, so he was gelded early and he’s still got some spirit.
“She’s got a foal at foot, a filly by Staphanos, and she’ll be going to Turn Me Loose. We’ll only give her one chance because it’s getting quite late.
“The only one who missed was by Time Test (Justadude), it didn’t work out for us and we sold him so hopefully he can go on and win a race somewhere else.”
