Karaka Quinella in Winter Cup

Graduates of the Karaka sales complex finished first and second in the opening black-type race of the 2018-19 New Zealand racing season, the $100,000 Group 3 Winning Edge Presentations 121st Winter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton Park on Saturday.

The $40,000 Festival Sale purchase Platinum Command (NZ) (Red Giant) swept to victory, lifting her career earnings past $300,000 with a one-length defeat of the $40,000 Ready to Run Sale graduate She’s Poppy (NZ) (Alamosa).

Ridden by Ryan Elliot, Platinum Command raced in midfield before a powerful finishing burst carried her to a significant victory. On the eve of her retirement to stud, it was her first black-type win.

“We bought her with Neville McAlister and Lincoln Farms, who raced her together for most of her career,” trainer Lisa Latta said.

“But Neville wants to breed from her and John Street (Lincoln Farms) isn’t really into the breeding. So she’s had a bit of a change of ownership recently with Ashburn Lane joining Neville – this is a great result for them.

“She’ll run again on the last day of the carnival next Saturday, but this is the last week of her racing career.”

Platinum Command has now had 57 starts for 10 wins, 14 placings and $304,442 in prize-money – seven and a half times her purchase price.

“She’s been an outstanding mare over the years, and this is great for her ahead of her breeding career,” Elliot said.

“Lisa told me to just get her relaxed and that she would really let down. I had handfuls of her in the straight, and as soon as I let her go she really exploded.”

Runner-up She’s Poppy has had seven wins, one at stakes level, in her 27-start career with earnings of $167,720 – four times her purchase price.