Karaka Grads Quinella Chairman's Handicap

Karaka bargain buys came to the fore at Doomben on Saturday with Mandela (Ebony Grosve x Wairongoa Belle) and Mirkola Lass (Prized x Gun Lady) producing a quinella in the Group 3 Chairman's Handicap.

Pukekohe based trainer Richard Yuill entrusted top jockey Darren Beadman to ensure Mandela overcame his wide barrier draw in the 2020 metre race. Doing just that, he proceeded to win by two-and-three-quarters of a length ahead of Kenny Rae's four-year-old mare Mirkola Lass.

The win is the fourth stakes win for the promising stayer who has now amassed over NZ$500,000 in prizemoney. Last season the five-year-old gelding took out the Group 3 Geelong Cup before finishing ninth in the Melbourne Cup. 

Bred by Te Kauwhata based John Smith, Mandela was bought by bloodstock agent Paul Willets for NZ$1750 at the 2003 Karaka Festival Sale from Esker Lodge draft.

Mirkola Lass was bred by Robert Bennett and purchased by Phillip Chisholm for NZ$800 as a two-year-old at the 2004 Spring Bloodstock Sale from Fayette Park Stud. The mare has now won over NZ$160,000 in prizemoney with Saturday's run being her first start outside of New Zealand.  

Saturday's duel is unlikely to be the last for Mandela and Mirkola Lass with Ruakaka-based Rae confirming that his honest mare will now head for the Premier's Cup on the 26 May with the ultimate aim being the Brisbane Cup at the revised distance of 2400m on 11 June. 

Preceding the Karaka quinella, Paul O'Sullivan's NZ$50,000 purchase from Cottage Stables at the 2003 South Island Sale, Irish Sky (Stravinsky x Woodwind) was victorious in the Doomben Dash (1110m). Bred by New Zealand Bloodstock Chairman Joe Walls the five-year-old was ridden by Glen Boss for Michael Pitman to a commanding three-quarter-of a length win.

Saturday's success comes hot on the heels of regally bred New Zealand fillies Santagostino and J'Adane's winning performances in Queensland.