Magic in Store for 2014 Karaka 3YO Mile

The $100,000 Karaka 3YO Mile at the Karaka Million Twilight Meeting is set to attract one of New Zealand’s leading fillies with Spellbinder (NZ) (O’Reilly) set to take her place in the field after a resounding victory in the $17,500 Rating 75 Pegasus Equine 1200 on Saturday at Ellerslie.

The Jason Bridgman trained filly was having her first start since finishing third in the Group 1 New Zealand Bloodstock 1000 Guineas at Riccarton in November behind stablemate and Filly of the Year Series leader Costa Viva (Encosta de Lago) and Group 1 Railway Handicap winner Bounding (Lonhro).

The filly by last season’s Champion Sire O’Reilly showed her class in the straight as she picked up the leaders and drew away for a comprehensive victory by a length-and-a-half with her ears pricked on the line over La Valeta (NZ) (Falkirk).

“She was in a fresh state, we hadn’t done much with her since Riccarton, but she showed what a class act she is winning quite convincingly,” stated Bridgman.

“She has pulled up really well and we are just thrilled with her. She is a great example of a top-class horse you can purchase out of Karaka, she was purchased by David Ellis out of the Select Sale for just $60,000 and she is a genuine Group 1 horse and has got it all ahead of her.

“She will go to the Karaka 3YO Mile, she has such an affinity with Ellerslie. She has had two runs for two wins there and I can’t forget her scintillating win the Soliloquy Stakes back in the spring. She is a filly that I think will really come to it this autumn.”

The three-year-old filly has won three of her five career starts and has been placed in her other two outings. She has earned $87,310 in prizemoney for her owners the Te Akau Spellbinder Syndicate (Mgr D C Ellis).

Te Akau Racing’s David Ellis purchased the filly at the 2012 Karaka Select Sale for $60,000 from Mapperley Stud. Bred by Australian trainer Danny O’Brien, Spellbinder is the fourth winner for her dam Scenic Spring (Scenic), a Listed placegetter in Australia.

New Zealand Champion Sire O’Reilly swept the champions awards last season and is set to be well-represented at Karaka 2014. Amongst 45 entries in the Premier Sale are the half-brother to five-time Group 1 winner Darci Brahma (Lot 35) and the full brother to Champion NZ 3YO and sire Alamosa (Lot 107).

The $100,000 Karaka 3YO Mile will be run on 26 January at the Karaka Million Twilight Meeting that features New Zealand’s richest race – the $1m Karaka Million.  The field is shaping up with last start Group 2 Eight Carat Classic winner Hera (NZ) (O’Reilly) also a possible starter in the race for Roger James.

Previous winners of the race include Group 1 winners Banchee (NZ) (Oratorio), Rock ‘n’ Pop (Fastnet Rock) Choice Bro (Choisir).

The Order of Entry will be determined by NZTR domestic ratings with the lowest rated horses eliminated first until the safety limit of 18 horses is met.

For more news and information on the Karaka Million Twlight Meeting at Ellerslie on 26 January go to www.nzb.co.nz, or visit www.ellerslie.co.nz to purchase tickets