Three-Way Karaka Photo Finish in Lightning

Sprinters sourced from Karaka fought out a superb finish to Saturday’s $50,000 Listed Hardy Trade Supply Company Lightning Handicap (1200m) at Trentham, with Grand Mayson (NZ) (Power) prevailing in a three-way photo.

Bought for $60,000 by Phill Cataldo Bloodstock at the 2016 Festival Sale, Grand Mayson has now had 27 starts for five wins, 13 placings and $106,759 in stakes. Runner-up Roch ‘n’ Horse (NZ) (Per Incanto) was passed in with a $40,000 reserve in Book 2 of Karaka 2018, and she has earned $51,050 and now has a black-type placing from only six starts to date. 

Third-placed Puysegur (Fastnet Rock) is a three-quarter-sister to eight-time Group One winner Avantage (Fastnet Rock). She was a $550,000 purchase from Book 1 of Karaka 2018, and she has added to her value with two stakes placings in her short racing career so far.

Saturday was a deserved breakthrough day for Grand Mayson, who had finished second or third in half of his career starts – including a luckless second over the same course and distance just last Saturday.

After settling at the rear of the field, jockey Lisa Allpress guided Grand Mayson through a gap in the straight and he produced an electrifying turn of foot.

Grand Mayson scorched through on the inside of Roch ‘n’ Horse and Puysegur, then thrust his neck out as that trio hit the finish line locked together. Grand Mayson secured victory by a nose from Roch ‘n’ Horse, with the same margin back to Puysegur in third.

“He’s become a bit of a stable pet,” said Johno Benner, who trains in partnership with Hollie Wynyard for owner Jen Campin.

“He’s six years old now and we’ve had him for a while, and if you look through his record, he’s been ultra-consistent all the way through. He’s very capable on his day, and he does have a devastating turn of foot. Lisa gave him a beautiful ride and it was a good win. They’ve run a pretty quick time (1:07.93).”