Saturday Delivers Four Karaka Stakes Winners

It was a big Saturday for Karaka graduates on both sides of the Tasman with a Group 3 Tasmanian Derby win to Betwixt, a Group 3 HS Dyke Waikato Guineas win to Easy Ryder, and two stakes wins on White Robe Lodge Stakes Day at Wingatui.

The Tasmanian Derby (2200m), staged in Hobart, was won by Karaka Select graduate Betwixt (O'Reilly - Not Sure, by Masterclass), the first filly to win the race since Royal Eclare in 1977. In the hands of outstanding female hoop Linda Meech, the bay filly raced handy to the lead and kicked in the straight to win by a length, clearly enjoying the step up in distance.

The $150,000 purchase from Waikato Stud by Steve Brem is raced by a syndicate managed by George Smith from the stable of Mick Price who picked up the Group 1 Toorak Handicap over the Spring Carnival with another outstanding O'Reilly in Alamosa.

Betwixt will now head to the Queensland Winter Carnival for the Group 1 Queensland Oaks which has been won by Kiwi-breds Ethereal, Vouvray, Giovana, Eskimo Queen, and Slight Chance as well as the outstanding Surround in 1977.

On home soil the feature in the North Island, the Group 3 Waikato Guineas (2000m), provided a major stepping stone for contenders heading towards the Group 1 $2.2 million Telecom NZ Derby on 28 February.

Last year the race was won by Nom Du Jeu (Montjeu) who subsequently took out the Group 1 AJC Derby. This year the Roger James and Paul Mirabelli trained Easy Ryder (Brilliance - Ledahead, by Jugalug) emerged the victor in a time of 2.01.47. Matt Cameron positioned the gelding beautifully on the fence in a race set up by front running The Meista (Montjeu), who stuck on well for second, one and three-quarters of a length behind Easy Ryder who finished powerfully over the top of the field.

Easy Ryder was offered at the Karaka Festival Sale in 2007 by Riverlea Lodge with a reserve of just $700. In what is promising to be a real rags to riches story, he will now head to the New Zealand Derby for his owner Ms J Grieve.

In the South, Dunedin's Wingatui racetrack played host to White Robe Lodges Stakes Day with four of the eleven races carrying black type and the maiden events offering stakes of $20,000 on the Gallop South program.

The Group 3 White Robe Lodge Stakes (1600m) was the feature event and it was Eel Win (San Luis - Escapade, by Deputy Governor) for last season's Champion New Zealand trainer Michael Pitman who dashed to victory. A $1000 purchase from the Berkley Stud draft at the 2005 South Island Sale, the bay gelding has now amassed $236,325 in prize-money for his owners Mr. and Mrs. Sabin Kirkland.

The time honored Listed Otago RC Dunedin Guineas (1400m) was a very close affair with the Terry Kennedy trained Miss Millbrook (No Excuse Needed - Arche, by Danasinga) getting up to win by a nose. Kennedy, who was active at Karaka earlier this week with three purchases, bought the filly from the 2007 Karaka Select Sale for $50,000 from Te Mania Thoroughbreds.

The Festival Sale is currently underway and will continue tomorrow from 11am.