Karaka Million Leaves Mark at Matamata

The dominance of Karaka Million race graduates was taken to another level at Matamata on Saturday with both their feature juvenile events quinellaed by 2010 Karaka Million competitors.

Banchee

The feature race on the card, the Group 2 J Swap Contractors Matamata Breeders' Stakes (1200m), went the way of the locals when Banchee (Oratorio x Miss Jessie Jay, by Spectacularphantom) turned the tables on Karaka Million winner Sister Havana (General Nediym) in a thrilling three-way finish.

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�Banchee provided her sire Oratorio (IRE) with his first Southern Hemiphere Group winner

The John Sargent trained filly drew the outside as she did in the Karaka Million and had to settle for a position three wide in running.

Extremely tractable, jockey Leith Innes was able to relax the filly off the speed before revving all engines as the field round into the Matamata straight.

Banchee finished better than the opposition to score by a head from Sister Havana and Miss Thorn (Thorn Park)�who both enjoyed runs just off the fence.

A half-sister to Katie Lee, Banchee finished third in similar fashion in the $1,000,000 Karaka Million with the Group 2 just reward for the combination of her effort and ability.

Described as 'a joy to be around' by Denny Baker whose Hallmark Stud bred and sold Banchee for $375,000 at Karaka Premier last year, the sentiments are shared by the filly's trainer John Sargent who commented post race on her easy going nature.

Owned by Sam Kelt's Stampede Ltd, Banchee now gets set for New Zealand's two Group 1 juvenile features which begin with the $200,000 Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie on 13 March.

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Nacho Man

Nacho Man (Mr Nancho x El Coriero, by The Jogger) got back to his home track and showed his ability when leading home a Karaka Million quinella in the Listed Waikato Stud Slipper (1200m).

Finishing last in the Karaka Million after failing to handle the right handed Ellerslie course, Nacho Man relished the familiar track and was put in the race right from the outset by jockey Craig Grylls.

Confidently ridden, the powerfully built colt quickly pulled away to record a commanding win, his first at black-type level.

His winning margin of two and a half lengths came at the expense of Sirrio (Captain Rio) in second, a gelding who finished sixth in the 2010 Karaka Million. Four of the top five finishers came to the race via the Karaka Million in fact with Hoofit running fourth and Everlasting fifth.

Nacho Man is trained by Mike Moroney at Matamata for Esker Lodge's Tom and Shelley Murtagh, Singapore trainer Michael Clements, Chris Grace (Hamilton), and Paul Pang. He fetched $27,000 at the 2009 Festival Sale from Maara Grange and is the first stakes-winner from the first crop of Mr Nancho.

With entries closing in just seven days for the 2011/2012 Karaka Million Race Series the Matamata results speak volumes for making your purchase(s) eligible for the $1,100,000 in stake-money.

All 2010 Karaka National Yearling Sale Series purchases are eligible so download your entry form here. Entries close 5pm sharp, Monday, 8 March 2010.

For Conditions of Entry click here.