Progressive 2-year-old So Naive (NZ) (U S Navy Flag {USA}) may have just booked himself a spot in the rich NZ$1 million R. Listed Karaka Millions 2YO with a successful audition at Ellerslie on Sunday.

The son of The Oaks Stud’s U S Navy Flag is trained by Bruce Wallace and Grant Cooksley. Ridden by Michael McNab on Sunday, he defeated Te Akau Racing’s Maracatu (NZ) (Ardrossan) and the Steven Cole-trained Hard Attack (NZ) (All Too Hard).

So Naive, a NZ$37,500 purchase by Wallace Thoroughbreds, was consigned by Kilgravin Lodge from the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale. He was lining up for his third start at Ellerslie after winning and making a successful debut at Pukekohe Park in October. Then he returned to the venue, finishing fourth behind the classy Bellatrix Star (Star Witness) in the G2 Eclipse S.

The colt is the third foal from the Bernardini (USA) mare Altai Rose (NZ). She was fourth in the Listed Star Way S. at Waikato and is a half-sister to the six-time winner Natch (NZ) (Thorn Park).

So Naive’s second dam, Tamnia (GB) (Green Desert {GB}), was a classy juvenile, winning twice as a 2-year-old, including the Listed Sandown Star S. and placed in the G1 Moyglare Stud S. at the Curragh.

-TTR, Australia & NZ