Karaka Trifecta in Bonecrusher Stakes

Saturday’s $70,000 Group 3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) at Ellerslie produced a trifecta of Karaka graduates, headed by Spirits Aubeer (Spirit of Boom).

Spirits Aubeer was bought for $55,000 at the 2017 Select Sale, and Saturday’s win was his third and the biggest of his career to date. The $160,000 Premier Sale graduate Surely Sacred (NZ) (Rock ‘N’ Pop) was a fast-finishing second, with $50,000 Select Sale graduate Hypnos (NZ) (Reliable Man) third.

Trained and part-owned by Nigel Tiley and ridden by Rowena Smyth, Spirits Aubeer scored a dominant front-running win. He went straight to the lead and never surrendered that advantage, scoring a commanding victory by two and a half lengths.

Spirits Aubeer has now had six starts for three wins, a placing and $66,375 in prize-money – more than his purchase price.

“He’s quite green,” Tiley said. “He is still a pretty raw sort of horse, but he has just got so much ability. I don’t think he knows how good he is.”