Karaka Trifecta in Trevor Eagle Memorial

The first three horses home in Saturday’s $50,000 Listed Trevor Eagle Memorial (1500m) at Ellerslie were all Karaka graduates, headed by Top Prospect (NZ) (Swiss Ace) who picked up his third win in a row.

Trained by Richard Collett and ridden by his daughter Alysha, Top Prospect produced a quality turn of foot to come from midfield and score a convincing victory by three-quarters of a length.

It was Top Prospect’s third win from six career starts, boosting his prize-money earnings to $54,375, and all three of his wins have come in his last three appearances.

“He’s a smart horse,” Richard Collett said. “He’s a very lean, athletic horse, but we think he’s a horse who’s going to stay.”

Collett identified the $1 million Group 1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie in March as the main target this season for Top Prospect, who is a half-brother to the stakes-placed Charlestown (NZ) (Myboycharlie). Their dam Princess Carolina (More Than Ready) is a full-sister to Readyforcatherine, the dam of Group 1 winner and sire Atlante (NZ) (Fastnet Rock).

Top Prospect was bred by Westbury Stud’s Gerry Harvey and was offered by Westbury at the 2015 Select Sale. He was purchased for $65,000 by the Robt Dawe Agency on behalf of owner Arthur Avis.

Runner-up Barcelo (NZ) (Alamosa) was secured by trainer and owner Peter McKay and his wife Kim for $23,000 at the 2015 Select Sale. The third-placed Creative Genius (Master Of Design) went through the 2015 Ready to Run Sale, where he sold to trainer and owner Steven Cole for $110,000.