Khafre (NZ) Captures Another Listed Mile

Karaka graduate Khafre (NZ) (American Pharoah) took his career earnings to the brink of $250,000 with another feature victory in Sunday’s $80,000 Listed Manawatu ITM Anzac Mile (1600m) at Wanganui.

Previously the winner of the Listed Matamata Cup (1600m) in December and runner-up in the Group Three Phar Lap Trophy (1600m) in January, Khafre has now had 28 starts for seven wins, seven placings and $248,515 in stakes. He was a $155,000 purchase from Phoenix Park’s draft at Karaka 2021.

Khafre was ridden by Jasmine Fawcett on Sunday and jumped well from the outside gate. He slid forward and settled in second on the outside of the front-running Bedtime Story (NZ) (Per Incanto).

Fawcett began to up the ante coming down the side of the track, moving up alongside Bedtime Story and sticking his head in front before the home turn.

Bedtime Story tried to stick with him, with proven Australian black-type performer Fall For Cindy (NZ) (Sacred Falls) also emerging from the pack to figure in the finish, but Khafre dug deep and edged ahead of that pair in the last few strides to win by a neck.

“I went into the race quite confident, knowing that he can handle a nice track and is an on-pace runner,” Fawcett said. “I did expect to lead, but racing doesn’t always go the way you expect, so I was happy to take a sit outside the leader.

“He’s got better with age. Ralph Manning (trainer) has done a great job with him.”

Khafre is by American Pharoah, who won America’s world-famous Triple Crown of the Kentucky Derby (2000m), Preakness Stakes (1900m) and Belmont Stakes (2400m) in May and June of 2015 – almost exactly a decade ago.

The dam of Khafre is La Dama (NZ) (High Chaparral), who is a three-quarter-sister to the Group One New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) and Group Two (now Group One) Surround Stakes (1400m) winner La (Bella) Diosa (NZ) (So You Think). La Dama is also a half-sister to the stakes winners and Group One placegetters Solid Billing (Rock Of Gibraltar) and Thy (NZ) (O’Reilly).