Sacred Rhythm (NZ) the Latest Stakes-Winning Karaka Graduate

Pentire filly Sacred Rhythm (NZ), who won Saturday’s $50,000 Listed Bob Sharrock Memorial Oaks Prelude (1800m) at New Plymouth, became the latest in a long line of black-type performers to come out of the Karaka sale ring and race in the colours of Raffles Racing.

That list is headed by Group 1 winners such as Sacred Falls (NZ) (O’Reilly), Rock Diva (NZ) (Lucky Unicorn) and Sacred Elixir (NZ) (Pour Moi), all trained for at least some of their career by Tony Pike. Sacred Rhythm also comes from Pike’s Cambridge stable, and after Saturday’s win – her second from three career starts – Pike is considering a shot at either the New Zealand Oaks in March or the Queensland Oaks in June.

Ridden by Vinnie Colgan, Sacred Rhythm endured a wide run from her outside gate but ran out the 1800-metre journey stronger than any of her rivals. She overpowered the placegetters Date Night (NZ) (Savabeel) and Storytime (NZ) (Savabeel) in the straight, forging clear to win by three-quarters of a length.

Sacred Rhythm was bred by Rich Hill Stud, who offered her at the 2015 Premier Sale where she was bought by Raffles Racing and Mulcaster Bloodstock for $85,000. She has already earned back almost half that amount from just three starts.