Local Filly Blows Them Away in Northland Breeders’ Stakes

Ruakaka filly She’s No Saint (Prague) has raised the bar in each start this campaign, and she continued that trend at stakes level on Saturday with a dominant performance in the $100,000 Group Three Cambridge Stud Northland Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) on her home track.

Highline Thoroughbreds offered She’s No Saint in Book 1 of Karaka 2025, where Ruakaka trainer Michelle Bradley bought her for $55,000. Her seven-race career has now produced three wins, two placings and $132,475 in stakes.

She’s No Saint showed early promise as a two-year-old, placing in her first two starts before running a highly creditable sixth in the $1m TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) as one of the least experienced runners in the field.

Bradley sent She’s No Saint for a spell after the Karaka Millions, eventually resuming with a sixth over 1100 metres at Ellerslie on May 23. She returned there for a win over 1200 metres on June 6, followed by a three-length success in a three-year-old sprint at Ruakaka on August 1.

Saturday’s Breeders’ Stakes was a much tougher test, taking on a number of proven stakes performers and exciting up-and-comers. But She’s No Saint rose to the occasion with a spectacular, career-best win.

She’s No Saint was ridden by George Rooke, and after jumping well from gate five, she slid forward to take up the early lead. That was where she stayed, and she dominated the race from the front.

Rivals got themselves balanced up at the home turn and set their sights on the leader, attempting to sprint up alongside her and throw down the gauntlet. Instead, She’s No Saint produced a powerful kick and shot away. She opened up a winning margin of three and three-quarter lengths.

“It’s great when you have a plan and it comes off,” Bradley said. “I was a little bit worried when she was racing a bit keenly, but George knows what he is doing and I left it up to him.

“I wasn’t expecting that. She has really surprised me. With her races and trials previously, I have spaced them a month apart, so this is the first time she has gone two weeks between runs. I am super happy for the owners. This is fantastic.

“She is just maturing more and more, and she is developing into a lovely filly. She is just doing everything with ease, which is fantastic.”

Bradley is now keen to carry along the road towards the Group One New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton in November.

“One thing I would take out of today is that I would like her to settle a little bit better,” she said. “Whether that needs to be in behind and getting some cover, I’m not sure. But we have got black-type now.

“This was our target, but I have worked out a path towards the Group One, if we can get there. You have got to plan like that and be ready for those races. It might work out, it might not. You don’t know. From 1200 metres to a mile is a big step up. But to get today ticked off the bucket list is fantastic.

“We will see how she come through this and carry on to the next race, which will be over 1400 metres, and we will go from there.”

Vendor	Highline Thoroughbreds
Purchaser	Mrs ML Bradley (Northland)
Breeding	Prague – Poetic Diva
Sale	Lot 213, Karaka 2025 Book 1, $55,000
Breeder	Mr MJ O'Donnell, Austramore Pty Ltd
Owner	GS Bloodstock Ltd, T W Archer Trust, M Spranger, M Breed, D Smith, H Perry, M Beazley, D McKenzie, A Golightly, C Wilson, J Heasley, B, K & R Bennetto & B Drinkwater