Gift Of Power (NZ) All the Way in Levin Stakes

High-class Karaka graduate Gift Of Power (NZ) (Power) made a brilliant return to top form with an all-the-way win in Friday’s $50,000 Listed FastTrack Insurance Levin Stakes (1200m) at Otaki.

The $180,000 Premier Sale purchase had won eight races and more than $229,000 in prize-money before Friday’s race, headed by black-type victories in the Listed Wellesley Stakes (1000m) and Group 2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m) as a two-year-old.

Ten months and six starts had passed since her last win, but on Friday she was exceptional. Sent straight to the lead by rider Lisa Allpress, she produced a fierce kick in the straight and sprinted to victory by two and a half lengths. She clocked a slick 1:09.59 for the 1200 metres on a Dead5 track.

“She was certainly dominant,” co-trainer and part-owner Graeme Rogerson told NZ Racing Desk.

“It takes a very good young mare to do that, sit three wide, do the work and leave them behind. Michelle (Northcott, travelling foreman) said her work on Tuesday morning was as good as she’s ever worked.

“I think she is a mare in the top bracket and it would be nice to win a Group One with her.”

Gift Of Power has now had 18 starts for nine wins, five placings and $260,550 in prize-money for her owners the Bailey Rogerson Trust, Fatesal Holdings Ltd, Lady Justine and Sir Patrick Hogan, C A Leishman, G R and Mrs M E Northcott and G A Rogerson MNZM.

Cambridge Stud will offer a Tavistock half-brother to Gift Of Power in the Karaka Book 1 Sale in January. The colt will go through the ring as Lot 622.