A determined win by Lupo Solitario in the Group 3 Manco Easter Handicap (1600m) at Ellerslie has highlighted the strength of Kingmakers Director's 2022 Karaka selections and processes.
The five-year-old, Lupo, was ridden by Wiremu Pinn, settled well before finishing strongly to hold off a late challenge. 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 a colt with long-term upside. He was placed on a structured development path targeting black-type 3 year-old spring success and the idea of a future international sale.
Ceolwulf was later that year secured for $170,000 from the Ready to Run Sale in a separate deal with Sydney trainer Joe Pride. The Tavistock colt, out of the Shamardal mare Las Brisas, was independently shortlisted by both Howl and Pride before they agreed to purchase him (following close consultation with Pride's Sydney vet).
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.
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 investors reportedly receiving around $1,176,000 in combined stake earnings plus a substantial capital return.
Ceolwulf has followed a different trajectory, progressing through the Australian system under Pride. He placed in both the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas and Australian Derby before winning the Group 1 Epsom Handicap at Randwick. He then quickly added three more G1 wins to his name, including a successful defence of his King Charles’ Stakes crown.
The success of both horses from the same sales year further strengthens Howl’s reputation for identifying and buying high-level talent across different racing jurisdictions of NZ and AUS. It also reinforces the philosophy behind Kingmakers disciplined selection process, to deliver unique horse for owners to buy into.
Finding unique horses, with interesting pedigree's, quality traits and biomechanics to move well and perform on the track is not easy task - Kingmakers director, Leighton Howl is certainly off to a flying start!
