Katie Lee Courageous for Cambridge
29 December 2009
In a fitting result, Katie Lee's courage saw Sir Patrick and Lady Hogan's emerald green colours pass the post first in the Group 2 Cambridge Stud Eight Carat Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie on Saturday.
The bonny grey, who claimed both the Group 1 NZ 2000 Guineas and Group 1 NZB 1000 Guineas in November, proved best over the mile distance once again when shaking of all her female opposition with a brilliant burst of acceleration in the final 300m.
Adaline (Court of Jewels) and Blonde Bombshell (Towkay) gave Karaka the trifecta in the prestigious fillies race with Adaline tracking Katie Lee (Pins x Miss Jessie Jay, by Spectacularphantom) throughout and closing within a head, and Blonde Bombshell, having led, holding on for third two and a half lengths away.
Targeted by trainers Graeme and Debbie Rogerson, the Group 2 Eight Carat was the fifth leg of the 2009/10 New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series which culminates in the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) on 20 March.
Katie Lee, having won the Group 1 NZB 1000 Guineas and placed in both the Group 3 Eulogy Stakes and Group 3 Gold Trail Stakes, with eight points for victory in the Group 2 Eight Carat took her tally to 24.5 points, some 17.5 points ahead of second placed Keep the Peace (Keeper).
Though mathematically possible it seems as though the Cambridge Stud owned filly might have an unassailable lead in the Filly of the Year Series at the halfway mark given the great depth of classic fillies set to compete in the remaining five legs, with Katie Lee herself included in this group looking to collect further valuable points.
Click here to view the current NZB Filly of the Year Points table.
The Series 'backs-up' this Friday with the running of the Group 2 New Zealand Bloodstock Royal Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie on New Year's Day, this coming Friday.
Click here to see the remainder of the 2009/10 NZB Filly of the Year Race Schedule.
Katie Lee is one of a number of successful grey coloured progeny by her sire Pins with others including 2009 Group 2 Wellington Cup winner Megapins and Listed Lion Brown Sprint winner Raid.
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| �Katie Lee's Sire Pins (Snippets)�is represented by 61 yearlings at Karaka 2010 |
Of Pins' 61 yearlings (Premier�and Select) at Karaka 2010 two are grey in colour including:
Lot 168 - Grey Colt - Pins x Singasong (Danasinga) - Waikato Stud
��������� This colt from winning mare Singasong is a direct descendent of supreme grey mare Emancipation, a Champion 3YO & 4Y0, and named the 1984/85 Australian Horse of the Year.
��������� A three quarter brother to Raid this colt's family has left a host of smart greys including Group sprinter Virage De Fortune, and Group 1 HK Derby placed Jackpot Delight (Hamlet's Ghost).
Lot 451 - Grey Colt - Pins x Iman (Zemindar) - Kendayla Park
��������� This colt is a half-brother to five winners including Group 1 Railway Handicap winner Imananabaa (Anabaa) and Group 2 STC Tea Rose placed Ms Bowie (Amabaa).
��������� This is also the family of last season's leading 2YO Rostova (Testa Rossa).