Hot on the heels of Adaline's victory in the Group 2 NZB Royal Stakes, Karaka Graduates took out two further Group 2 events at Ellerslie on New Year's Day with Red Ruler dominant in the Stella Artois City of Auckland Cup, and La Etoile barn-storming in the Rich Hill Mile.

Red Ruler Good enough to run second three times at Group 1 level on both sides of the Tasman including the Group 1 AJC Derby, Red Ruler (Viking Ruler x Ransom Bay, Red Ransom) capped off strong recent form with a solid length and a half victory in the Group 2 City of Auckland Cup on Friday.

Ridden by Mark Du Plessis, Red Ruler enjoyed the box seat for much of the 2400m journey before sprinting to the lead shortly in the home straight, a lead he maintained all the way to the line to beat Fazza (I Conquer) by a length and a half in 2.27.22.

The win took Red Ruler's earnings over the $1,000,000 mark after being purchased by his trainer John Sargent for $60,000 out of the Trelawney Stud draft at Karaka Premier.

Raced by NZTR Chairman Guy Sargent, former Hong Kong Jockey Club Chairman Ron Aculli, and Andrew Meehan, Red Ruler has international travel plans in the pipeline with his trainer declaring a start in the Group 1 Hong Kong Queen Elizabeth II Cup on 25 April a distinct possibility.

Red Ruler is the second Group winner for his sire Viking Ruler this season following Kroner's Group 2 STC Premier Stakes win for Bart Cummings in August.

Viking Ruler, who is proving exceptionally versatile with stakes performers in Australia, England, Singapore, and New Zealand, is represented by 20 yearlings at Karaka 2010 (Premier, Select, and Festival) with Cambridge Stud selling five of these in the Premier Session.

Red Ruler's closest relative at Karaka 2010 will be offered by Dormello Stud at Lot 584. Their bay colt by Duelled out of Notawordtomary (Black Minnaloushe), a half-sister to Red Ruler, is set to sell on day one of the Karaka Select Session, 3 February.

La Etoile Windsor Park Stud's young sire Thorn Park took his number of individual stakes winners to an impressive eight, 7% stakes winners to runners, when gifted La Etoile (Thorn Park x Desert Wine, by Deputy Governor) stormed home from last to win the Group 2 Rich Hill Mile.

The four-year-old mare who placed third in the Group 3 Queensland Guineas last season pierced a wall of horses in the final 50 metres of the $100,000 event to score by a long head over Mill Duckie (Magic Ring).

A grand-daughter of Group 1 NZ Oaks and Group 1 AJC Oaks winner Domino (Grosvenor), La Etoile was purchased by her trainer Roger James for $70,000 from Chequers Stud at the 2007 Karaka Premier Sale.

Raced by The Skews Family Trust, La Etoile has now won five from 16 starts with close to $200,000 in earnings just reward for the class of horse the mare has now beat.

La Etoile will get her shot at Group 1 level later in the month when she travels to Trentham to contest the Group 1 Thorndon Mile on 30 January.

Her sire Thorn Park (pictured) is amassing a tidy record for a stallion with his oldest just four year olds. A Group 1 winner from the famous Denise's Joy family, Thorn Park is represented by 36 yearlings at Karaka 2010 (Premier, Select, and Festival) with plenty of selection through every session of the Series.

The highlight on paper looks Lot 129, a bay half-brother to tough triple Group 1 winning mare Miss Potential offered by Richfield Thoroughbred Farm.