Widden Sold Stakes-Winner in NZ

New Zealand – Featuring in New Zealand on New Year’s Day was talented Australian bred two year-old colt Gobi Ranger, who won the Group III Eclipse Stakes at Ellerslie.
An impressive winner at the same venue when making his debut on December 16, the Danica Guy trained son of Tale of the Cat (USA) measured up to the tougher Black Type company of this assignment.
Gobi Ranger strode clear to win the 1200 metre dash by the best part of a length, providing his trainer with her first stakes-winner and stamping himself as a big chance in the upcoming $1million Karaka Million.
Unbeaten in winning each of his two starts to date, Gobi Ranger was bought on the advice of former champion Australian jockey Mick Dittman for Singapore based owner Dr KC Tan.
He bought Gobi Ranger for $75,000 from the Hallmark Stud draft at the 2012 NZB Premier Yearling Sale, the colt having been a successful pinhook for Hallmark, who purchased him for $50,000 from the Widden Stud draft at the 2011 Inglis Select Weanling Sale.
Bred by Bylong Park Thoroughbreds, Gobi Ranger is the best of two winners from well bred mare Big Step, a half-sister by Honour and Glory (USA) to stakes-winner Actress and to the dam of Group I winners Desert War and Laser Hawk.