Banchee Best in Juvenile Feature

Banchee became the sixteenth individual Group 1 winner this season for New Zealand Bloodstock on Saturday when she took out the Group 1 ARC Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie against the best of her age group.

The $200,000 two-year-old feature attracted 13 entrants with seven of these coming through New Zealand Bloodstock's Karaka Million on 31 January.

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�Banchee's sire Oratorio (IRE)

Banchee (Oratorio x Miss Jessie Jay, by Spectacularphantom) started favourite after her last start Group 2 Matamata Breeders' Stakes victory where she turned the tables on Karaka Million winner Sister Havana.

The John Sargent-trained filly finally drew a good barrier in the Group 1 event and jockey Leith Innes used it the her advantage finding a spot on the rail just off the pace set by Sirrio (Captain Rio) and Nacho Man (Mr Nancho).

On straightening Innes angled out and Banchee quickly made herself prominent, eventually leading with 150 metres to go.

Outstanding colts Jimmy Choux (Thorn Park) and Cellarmaster (Dubawi) were on her hammer though and the duo matched strides with Banchee for a stride before the bay found more and kicked to score by a head and a nose from Cellarmaster and Jimmy Choux respectively.

The win was just reward for Banchee who has been a dominant force in New Zealand juvenile racing since her debut victory at Ellerslie on 13 December. Her record speaks for itself with five starts for three wins, a second and a third placing.

In winning the Group 1 Banchee continued an amazing run for Karaka Million graduates. Since the inaugral running of the $1,000,000 event in 2008 five Group 1 juvenile races have been contested in New Zealand. Of these, four have been won by Karaka Million contestants (Il Quello Veloce, Kaaptan, The Heckler, and Banchee), with the other going to NZB Carnival Bonus winner Fully Fledged.

From Group 3 winner Miss Jessie Jay, Banchee is a half-sister to 2009/10 New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Katie Lee (Pins), winner of the Group 1 NZ 2000 Guineas and the Group 1 NZB 1000 Guineas.

Owned by Sam and Belinda Kelt, Banchee with $280,000 in earnings may now cross the Tasman to contest the A$3.5m Group 1 AAMI Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m) on 3 April, a race that John Sargent believes could suit the filly with her ability to relax off the pace.

Banchee was bred and sold by Denny and Mark Baker's Hallmark Stud, along with Trevor Hurley. From the first crop of Irish-bred Danehill son Oratorio, Banchee brought $375,000 at the 2009 Karaka Premier Sale.

Banchee is one of sixteen individual New Zealand Bloodstock graduates who have won Group 1 races this season. Click here for the full list.