Karaka Graduate Qualifies For Caulfield & Melbourne Cups

Promising three-year-old Vatuvei hinted at bigger things to come yesterday at Flemington when he powered away to take his first stakes victory in the A$150,000 Listed VRC St Leger (2800m).

Trained by Peter Moody, Vatuvei (Reset x Boisterous Lady) settled towards the back of the field and improved on his position from the 1400 metres with jockey Luke Nolen in the saddle. Racing four wide on the turn and kicking away in the straight, he held fellow Karaka graduate Practiced (Encosta de Lago) at bay to win by one-and-a-quarter-lengths.

The St Leger win gives Peter Moody some options for the son of Reset in the spring with the St Leger victory ensuring automatic entry into the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) and Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m).

A horse that showed some promise coming into yesterday's Listed assignment, Vatuvei won fresh up at Sale in February over 1400 metres and ran third at his last start to Backbone (Mossman) in the Listed Galilee Final (2400m) at Mornington.

Yesterday's victory was the second of Vatuvei's career and he became the 17th stakes winner for his sire Reset who sired nine stakes winners in Australia last season including the ill-fated Cox Plate winner Pinker Pinker.

Bred by Caradale Pty Ltd, Cobra Bloodstock Australia Pty Ltd and Austramore Pty Ltd, Vatuvei was purchased by Moody Racing from Denny & Mark Baker's Hallmark Stud at New Zealand Bloodstock's 2010 Karaka Premier Sale for $150,000.

Raced by Sitralos Racing, Mr C Sharpe, Mr A Coates, Mr J Phyland, Horsing Around, Mr P Clarke, The Bredhim, Mr H Overall, Mr S Bilalis & Cavalluccio, Vatuvei's stakes victory has taken his career earnings to over A$115,000 from his nine starts.

In a New Zealand Bloodstock trifecta, the Robert Hickmott trained Practiced (Encosta de Lago x Liberty Walk) chased Vatuvei down the entire Flemington straight and was 11 lengths clear of third placed About the Journey (Darci Brahma x Dominant) at the post.

A horse that also looks to have plenty to offer, the lightly raced Practiced broke his maiden at his third start in March over 1600 metres and ran fifth in the Listed Galilee Final (2400m) at his last start. Practiced was purchased by Rogerson Bloodstock from Haunui Farm at the 2010 Karaka Premier Sale for $500,000.