Stakes Winning Weekend for Karaka Fillies

Stakes Winning Weekend for Karaka Fillies

Zarita (Pentire x Gin Player by Defensive Play) and Pleasantsundaygirl (Cape Cross x Thunder Nights by Thunder Gulch) teamed up to produce a Karaka quinella in the Group 2 BMW Angus Armanasco Stakes (1600m) at Caulfield on Saturday.

Having her second start since a spell, the Pat Hyland trained Zarita crossed the line a length ahead of the honest Pleasantsundaygirl.

Zarita is a half-sister to Group 2 winner Run Like the Wind (Pins) and the five time winner in Hong Kong, Joy and Fun (Cullen). Saturday's win is her second at Group 2 level and her fourth from eight starts, taking her winnings to over A$380,000.

The Scott Williams-bred filly was purchased by the Pendant Equine Syndicate at the 2006 Karaka Premier Sale for NZ$195,000 from Rich Hill Stud.

Trainer Danny O'Brien bought Pleasantsundaygirl from Curraghmore Stud at the 2006 Karaka Select Yearling Sale for NZ$50,000. She has now had six starts for three wins and three second placings for prizemoney of A$173,000.

Also across the Tasman, and another winner from Curraghmore Stud, was Causeway Queen (Giant's Causeway x Soul Singer by Danehill) in the Listed Tasmanian Oaks (2100m) at Launceston. At her last start the Tony Vasil trained three-year-old won the Listed TRC Strutt Stakes (2100m) and now has six wins from 10 starts to her credit.

Harry Lawton Bloodstock purchased the filly from Curraghmore at the 2006 Karaka Premier Sale for NZ$90,000.

Clinching one for the boys at Bendigo yesterday, the David Hayes-trained juvenile Aqaleem (Elusive City x Carmel Valley by Last Tycoon) won the Schweppes Maiden Plate (1300m) by a stunning three and three-quarter lengths to become the first winner for his sire Elusive City. The son of Elusive Quality shuttles to Haunui Farm in Auckland.

A half-brother to Group 1 winner Hill of Grace (Zabeel) and Group winner Renewable (Zabeel), Aqaleem was bought by Shadwell Stud Australasia at the 2007 Karaka Premier Sale for NZ$150,000 from his breeders Trelawney Stud.

Meanwhile, at Matamata, Karaka Premier Sale graduate Te Akau Coup (Thorn Park x Beyond the Sunset by Gone West) was given a masterful ride by Jason Waddell to win the feature Group 2 Robin Duke of Bedford Matamata Breeders Stakes (1200m). Bucking the trend to head out wide in search of better ground, the filly shot up the inside to win by three-quarters-of-a-length ahead of fellow NZB graduates Il Quello Veloce (Captain Rio x Nishaani by Gold Brose) and Raid (Pins x Vanilla Sky by O'Reilly).

Bred by Peter and Philip Vela of Pencarrow Stud, the Mark Walker trained filly was having just her second raceday start after winning the Hawkes Bay Ruahine Motors Ford 2YO on 11 January. She was a NZ$150,000 purchase by Te Akau principal David Ellis at last year's Karaka Premier Yearling Sale and is now owned by prominent owner Ray Coupland.

The Walker-Coupland association also enjoyed success at Caulfield in the Group 2 Pure Blonde St George Stakes (1800m) on Saturday with Princess Coup (Encosta de Lago x Stoneyfell Road by Sovereign Road), reining NZ Bloodstock Filly of the Year, winning in fine style.

Il Quello Veloce was a NZ$50,000 Karaka Select Sale purchase by John Sargent from Westbury Stud while Herbie Dyke bid to NZ$250,000 to secure Raid from Waikato Stud.

ENDS

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