Lantern Way (NZ) Clears Maiden Ranks in Style with Group Two Triumph

On one of New Zealand racing’s biggest spring stages, the $40,000 Karaka 2022 purchase Lantern Way (Satono Aladdin) rose to the occasion and recorded the first win of his career in Saturday’s $175,000 Group Two Animal Health Direct Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) at Hastings.

Previously a placegetter in the Group Three Taranaki 2YO Classic (1200m) and the Listed Wanganui Guineas (1200m), Lantern Way has now earned $136,660 from his six-start career – more than three times his purchase price.

The Lisa Latta-trained gelding produced an impressive performance in Saturday’s Guineas, charging home from third-last in the hands of jockey Jonathan Riddell. He set his sights on the leaders Solidify (NZ) (Redwood) and Burn To Shine (NZ) (So You Think) in the final 150 metres, overhauling that pair and edging clear to score by half a length.

“That’s a good way to break maidens,” Riddell said. “He’s got a lot of talent and has always been a really nice horse.”

Latta shares that opinion and has been pleased with Lantern Way’s progress since his second placing in the Wanganui Guineas in his previous start.

“He looked pretty ordinary in the Wanganui Guineas – his coat just wasn’t quite there,” Latta said. “We elected to give him the five weeks between runs. He had a nice jumpout at Levin in between times, where he ran in an open-class heat. He’s only a maiden, but he came from last and went through them just like that.

“He’s a pretty good horse, this. I was just a little bit concerned about today’s track conditions, but he obviously handled it.

“A lot of his owners live down south, so it would be pretty special for them if we got him down there for the 2000 Guineas (Group One, 1600m). But obviously the horse comes first. We’ll get him through this and then go from there.”

The fifth individual stakes winner by Satono Aladdin, Lantern Way is out of No More Doubt (NZ) (Redoute’s Choice) – a daughter of dual Group One-winning mare Say No More (NZ) (Pentire).

Karaka graduates filled all of the first three placings in Saturday’s Hawke’s Bay Guineas. Runner-up Solidify was a $140,000 purchase from the 2022 Ready to Run Sale, and his eight-start career has so far produced three wins and more than $126,000 in stakes. The third-placed Burn To Shine was passed in at Karaka 2022 with a reserve of $150,000. He has had five starts for two wins and three placings, banking more than $70,000 in prize-money.

Photo: Race Images Palmerston North