Mandela Running for Kelt

Karaka graduates Mandela (Ebony Grosve x Wairongoa Belle) and Magic Cape (Magic Albert x Cape City) fought it out in a thrilling finish in the Counties Racing Club's feature event on Saturday, the Listed Jim & John Evans Ltd Classic.

Patrick Holmes and Sam Spratt urged their mounts to finish out the 1600 metre event with Mandela emerging the victor by just a neck for the recently formed Richard Yuill and Stephen Goodin training partnership.

A bargain at the 2003 Karaka Festival Yearling Sale for NZ$1,750, Mandela was purchased by bloodstock agent Paul Willets from Esker Lodge.

The six-year-old, who was second to Xcellent in the 2004 Group 1 Mercedes Derby, has now amassed almost NZ$600,000 in prize-money. His last preparation saw him win the Group 3 BTC Chairman's Handicap (2020m) in record time at the Brisbane Winter Carnival while earlier in the season he travelled to Melbourne and won the Group 3 Geelong Cup before a creditable ninth place in the Melbourne Cup.

Mandela carries a nomination for the Melbourne Cup again this year along with the Cox Plate and Caulfield Cup. However, his performance on Saturday also strengthened his candidacy for New Zealand's richest race ever, the $2 million Group 1 Kelt Captial Stakes (2040m) at Hastings on 6 October.

Group 1 Two Thousand Guineas winner Magic Cape was purchased by his trainer Shaun Ritchie at the 200 Ready to Run Sale for NZ$50,000 from Windsor Park Stud.

Karaka Ready to Run Sale graduate Mohican Brave (Desert King x Alcoban) was third. Joe Barnes purchased him in 2001 from Ascot Farm for NZ$220,000.