Consistent Klabel (NZ) Earns Christmas Reward

The centenary edition of New Zealand’s National Yearling Sale is now under a month away, and a pair of Karaka graduates have marked that stage of the countdown with a festive feature double in Australia.

A day after Tavi Time (NZ) (Tavistock) defended his Group Three Summer Cup (2000m) title in Sydney, fellow Karaka 2021 graduate Klabel (NZ) (Vadamos) followed that up with a tenacious performance in Saturday’s A$120,000 Listed Adelaide Galvanising Industries Christmas Handicap (1200m) at Morphettville.

Klabel was a $120,000 purchase by Adelaide trainers Richard and Chantelle Jolly from the Karaka 2021 Book 1 draft of Rich Hill Stud. He has now had 31 starts for seven wins, 13 placings and A$586,220 in stakes – five and a half times his purchase price.

The Christmas Cup was the first win at black-type level for Klabel, but he had recorded four top-four finishes in stakes company including a courageous second in this season’s Group Two McEwen Stakes (1200m) on Cox Plate Day at Moonee Valley in October.

The Morphettville-trained gelding returned to his home track for the Christmas Handicap on Saturday, and it turned into a triumphant homecoming.

Jockey Jake Toeroek pushed the six-year-old forward from his wide gate, taking up a position on the outside of Vexatious Dancer (Hualalai). Toeroek upped the ante coming down the side of the track and Klabel pulled ahead, rounding the home turn with a clear lead.

The finish line was still more than 100 metres away when Watchme Win (Harry Angel) and Grinzinger Prince (More Than Ready) drew up on either side of Klabel and threatened to swallow him up, but Klabel refused to surrender. He kept finding more and more, maintaining his narrow advantage all the way to the line.

“I know he doesn’t find a great deal of sprint, but he can really hold his tempo to the line, so I was quite happy to put the pressure on nice and early and make them chase me,” Toeroek said.

“He had the challengers on both sides, but fought really hard in the last 100 metres. I was confident on the line, but didn’t want to be too confident. I was glad to see my number up when I got back.

“He’s been a bit unlucky in his recent races in Melbourne, drawing awkward alleys and the races haven’t worked out in his favour. He is a horse that needs things to go his way.

“He’s never far away, he’s a very honest galloper, and it’s good for him to finally get a win on the board.

“He hasn’t had many of those next to his name in recent times, but he’s always picking up a cheque. It’s great to get this win for the ownership group – Neville Morgan and his family, along with the other owners. They’ve been great supporters and I’m happy to pay them back.”

The father-daughter Jolly team also took special satisfaction from Saturday’s result.

“I initially thought the inside horse might have got us on the line, but watching the slow-mo, we knew we were back in the game,” Richard Jolly said. “It was a good win. He deserved to win a race. He’s been running really well in Melbourne without quite getting there.

“He drew inside barriers in a couple of those Melbourne races and we rode him a bit more positively in good-speed races, which didn’t suit him. Today there was a bit of a lack of tempo in the race, and we decided to roll forward, which worked out well.

“Neville Morgan owns this horse along with John Naffine and Craig Fitzgerald’s Bula Bula Syndicate. This is a great result for them and there’ll be a nice celebration tonight.”

Karaka 2026 will take place at the Karaka Sales Centre from January 25 to 29, with Book 1 on January 25 and 26, Book 2 on January 27 and the new Karaka Summer Sale on January 29.

Vendor	Rich Hill Stud
Purchaser	Mr RR Jolly (South Australia)
Breeding	Vadamos – Ardere
Sale	Lot 249, Karaka 2021 Book 1, $120,000
Breeder	A R Galbraith QC
Owner	Mr N Morgan, Mr J F Naffine, Bula Bula