Betty Spaghetti (NZ) Secures Stakes Win

Classy Karaka graduate Betty Spaghetti (NZ) (Stratum Star) added valuable black type to her CV with a barnstorming come-from-behind victory in the $80,000 Listed Daphne Bannan Memorial Great Easter Stakes (1400m) at Riccarton on Saturday.

Breeders Beaufort Downs offered Betty Spaghetti in Book 1 of Karaka 2021, where Robert Dennis Racing bought her for $20,000. From a 21-start career, Betty Spaghetti has recorded six wins and six placings and has earned $233,160.

Betty Spaghetti is part-owned by Southland trainer Robert Dennis, who was an opponent in Saturday’s Great Easter Stakes as he saddled the eventual third placegetter The Radiant One (NZ) (Darci Brahma). But after a series of near-misses in feature races, Dennis would have had no disappointment about seeing the Anna Furlong-trained Betty Spaghetti sprint past his mare in the straight on Saturday.

Betty Spaghetti had previously finished second in the Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1400m), fourth in the Listed Dunedin Guineas (1500m), Warstep Stakes (2000m) and Hazlett Stakes (1400m), and fifth in the Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1600m) and the $350,000 The Oaks Stud Remutaka Classic (2100m).

Saturday was finally her day. With a well-timed ride from Billy Jacobson, Betty Spaghetti launched a scintillating finish from the back of the field. She roared down the outside of the Riccarton straight and charged past The Radiant One and Conor O’Ceirin (NZ) (Dial A Prayer) in the final 150 metres.

Betty Spaghetti had company from fellow fast-finishing backmarker Tumuch (NZ) (Satono Aladdin), but found enough in the last few strides to edge out that rival by a half-head.

“It was so good to see Betty Spaghetti pick up that black-type win today,” Furlong said. “She’s been a fantastic mare all the way through her career and really deserved to pick up a win at that level. It meant a lot to see her do it with such an outstanding performance today.

“There isn’t much more that she has to do now in this preparation, and there aren’t that many suitable races around for her at this time of the season, so I don’t think she’s likely to do a lot more this time in. She can head out to the spelling paddock on a winning note.”

Betty Spaghetti is out of the Swiss Ace mare Swiss Beauty (NZ), whose yearling colt by star sire Proisir was bought for $110,000 at Karaka 2025 in January by renowned Ready to Run Sale vendors Riversley Park.