Karaka Quinella in Group 3 Rotorua Stakes

Graduates of the Karaka sales complex filled the first two placings in Sunday’s prestigious fillies and mares’ feature, the $70,000 Group 3 ISCL Rotorua Stakes (1400m).

The winner Let Her Rip (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle) cost $41,000 at the 2014 Select Sale, while runner-up New York Minute (NZ) (Iffraaj) was bought for $15,000 as a weanling.

It was a first black-type success for Let Her Rip, who had previously recorded top-six finishes in the Group 1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas, Group 3 Cuddle Stakes and Listed Bendigo Guineas.

Under a well-timed ride from Chris Johnson, Let Her Rip dived through in between New York Minute and the favourite Underthemoonlight (NZ) (El Hermano), then kicked away to win by a length and a half.

By Rip Van Winkle out of the stakes-winning Keeper mare Keeper Special (NZ), Let Her Rip has now had 17 starts for five wins, three placings and more than $123,000 in prize-money – three times her purchase price.

Let Her Rip is raced by Alison Ritchie, wife of trainer Shaune, in partnership with Lindsay de Souza, Doug Painter, Todd Hartley and Paul Vawdrey.

“With some of Turn Me Loose’s owners involved in this horse, she’s likely to be meeting with him at some stage later on,” said Ritchie, who also bought Let Her Rip at Karaka.

“They can’t take this Group Three win away from us now. It’s great from a breeding perspective. She’s been unlucky not to at least place at stakes level before this.”