Karaka Graduates Perform with Distinction

Two-year-old Alamosa (O'Reilly x Lodore Mystic) stamped his early season form by taking out the Group 1 Ford Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie on Saturday.

Given a great ride by Gavin McKeon, the colt unleashed an impressive turn of foot on the home straight to win by half-a-length ahead of the Jim Collett-trained and ridden El Cuento (Tale of the Cat x Royal Celebrity) with�Karaka Premier Sale graduate, Satinka (Stravinsky x Miss Saigon), a long neck away in third.

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�Alamosa (O'Reilly x Lodore Mystic) close to the winning post in the Group 1 Ford Diamond Stakes (1200m)�

Trainer Peter McKay owns Alamosa with his wife Kym and Christchurch-based Trevor Luke.

This morning, Luke confirmed "all going to plan we'll go to the [Group 1] �Ford Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes (1400m)", to be held at Awapuni racecourse on 31 March.

Bred by Garry Chittick, Alamosa was purchased by the Montego Lodge Partnership from Waikato Stud, for NZ$60,000 at last year's Karaka Premier Sale. His prize money haul now stands at over NZ$157,000 after three wins from seven starts.

Proving another example of Waikato Stud's successful O'Reilly/Centaine mare cross, his dam Lodore Mystic (by Centaine) has so far produced two winners from two starters. Her yearling colt by Pins was purchased for NZ$280,000 by Hamilton businessman, Herbie Dyke, at this year's Karaka Premier Sale from Waikato Stud.

Also at Ellerslie, in the Group One Starcraft NZ Stakes (2000m), Karaka Select Sale graduate Sir Slick (Volksraad x Miss Opera) was denied his fourth Group 1 victory in a row. Loosing no admirers in defeat, a spectacular battle with the Roger James-trained mare Gaze (Cape Cross x Eye Full) saw him fall short by just half-a-head. Dezigna (Volksraad x Label Basher) was a further was two-and-a-half lengths back in third.

Meanwhile, across the Tasman, Karaka Select Sale graduate, Jokers Wild (Black Minnaloushe x Miss Rory), came within a short head and a nose of Group 1 glory behind crack three-year-old Miss Finland (Redoute's Choice x Forest Pearl) and Casino Prince (Flying Spur x Lady Capel). Looking every bit the winner 50 metres out in the Cadbury Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield, last year's NZ Champion two-year-old showed his class against Australia's top�three-year-olds franking the form of numerous New Zealand gallopers.