Last-Gasp Ryder Stakes Win for Itza Charmdeel

An exceptional 2022-23 season for New Zealand Bloodstock sale graduates has finished off with one final black-type flourish, thanks to a thrilling last-stride win by Itza Charmdeel (Charm Spirit) in the $65,000 Listed Phil’s Electrical and Gipsy Caravans Ryder Stakes (1200m) at Otaki on Saturday.

Passed in with a $60,000 reserve during Book 1 of Karaka 2022, Itza Charmdeel has now earned $45,965 in a highly promising three-start career that has produced back-to-back wins over the last three weeks.

The Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained gelding has developed with giant strides through the final stages of his two-year-old season. Fifth on debut at Ruakaka on June 10, he roared home from last to score a four-length maiden win at Rotorua on July 5, and what he did at Listed level at Otaki on Saturday was even better.

After enjoying a comfortable midfield run under jockey Sam Weatherley, Itza Charmdeel was looming ominously behind the leaders approaching the home turn when he got squeezed out of a gap and lost crucial ground.

But the super-talented youngster regathered his balance and momentum before launching an irresistible run out wide down the home straight. He charged through the final 100 metres and caught Quirky Habits (NZ) (Belardo) right on the finish line, snatching victory by a nose.

“I’m certainly glad he got there,” Wellwood told the LOVERACING.NZ News Desk. “I think he would have been hard done by to get beaten after he eased himself out of the gap between those two horses entering the straight. I think he just didn’t like being squeezed up, but when he found clear air, Sam said he really lengthened stride and just flew the last 50 metres.

“He had won well on a similar track at Rotorua and had worked well since then, but you always need a little luck on your side to get a win like this, and it was our turn today.

“He is still very immature both mentally and physically, so a nice break now will do him the world of good. To be fair, we didn’t think he would get this far – he appeals as more of a three-year-old type. So to do what he has is very exciting looking ahead to next season.

“Sam did say he felt his action would be better suited to good ground, so he could be quite a nice prospect around Christmas time, once he comes back into work.”

Runner-up Quirky Habits was bought for $12,000 as a weanling from the 2021 National Weanling Sale. He has now had three starts for a win and two placings, earning $26,225 for a big group of owners.

The Ryder Stakes was the final stakes race on the New Zealand calendar, and it brought the curtain down on a remarkably successful season for horses sourced from Karaka.

Itza Charmdeel became the 97th individual New Zealand Bloodstock graduate to win at black-type level this season. Between them, those 97 horses have won almost 150 feature races across New Zealand, Australia and Asia, including 30 at Group One level.

Itza Charmdeel is the 12th stakes-winning two-year-old to come out of Karaka 2022, joining a list headed by Group One winners Pignan (NZ) (Staphanos) and Ulanova (NZ) (Santos), along with Karaka Million hero Tokyo Tycoon (NZ) (Satono Aladdin).

Perhaps the most impressive statistic, however, is this season’s three-year-old Karaka graduates. No fewer than 30 of them won stakes races this season, including Group One-winning stars Affaire A Suivre (NZ) (Astern), Dunkel (NZ) (Dundeel), Kovalica (NZ) (Ocean Park), Legarto (NZ) (Proisir), Prowess (NZ) (Proisir), Romancing The Moon (NZ) (El Roca), Ruthless Dame (NZ) (Tavistock) and Sharp ‘N’ Smart (NZ) (Redwood).

Vendor	Woburn Farm
Purchaser
Breeding	Charm Spirit – Whatadeel
Sale	Lot 56, Karaka 2022 Book 1, Psd (Res $60,000)
Bred by	River Valley Bloodstock Ltd