Ruud Awakening for Karaka Million

The $1 million Karaka Million (Res.L) Order of Entry has a new leader with the smart Bernardini filly Ruud Awakening remaining unbeaten in the $50,000 Listed Seaton Park Wellesley Stakes (1000m).

With a field of nine runners competing in the first New Zealand two-year-old stakes race of the season, the Wellesley Stakes was turned into a one-horse race with Ruud Awakening (Bernardini x Dawn Almighty) turning in a powerful display.

Ruud Awakening cruises home in the Wellesley Stakes. Photo courtesy of Race Images.

Trained by Stephen Marsh and ridden by Jason Waddell, the Bernardini filly could not have been more impressive as she came from off the pace and took to her rivals in the straight, racing away to an eye-catching two-and-a-quarter length win.

“She is an exciting filly and still very much untapped,” said Stephen Marsh. “She wasn’t tuned up for the race and she really dealt to them.”

“The Karaka Million is her main target. We are not 100% sure where she will go in the interim, but our priority is to get her to that race.

“She’s a push button type of filly. Jason (Waddell) just loves her and she is one of those fillies that does everything so easily. We are thrilled to get black-type with her and now we are focused on the $1 million race.”

Raced by the Go Racing Almighty Dawn Syndicate, Ruud Awakening won her debut at Avondale by over five lengths and her $32,500 in stakes puts her well in front in the Karaka Million Order of Entry.

Karaka Million nominated two-year-olds filled the first four placings in Saturday’s event with Precious Sophia (Cecconi), Dancer's Tale (Tale of the Cat) and Touche (Thorn Park) all next across the line.

Bred by Westbury Stud manager Russell Warwick, Ruud Awakening was purchased by Albert Bosma’s Go Racing from Westbury Stud at the 2012 Karaka Premier Sale for $90,000.