Valuable Black Type for Waikato Girl (NZ)

The exceptional pedigree of $600,000 Karaka 2022 purchase Waikato Girl (NZ) (Savabeel) made her a valuable commodity before she ever seen foot on a racetrack, but a black-type win in Brisbane on Saturday raised her profile to a new level.

The A$160,000 Listed Aquis Stallions Princess Stakes (1600m) was the second win of a seven-start career for Waikato Girl, who has so far earned A$178,275.

But Waikato Girl’s value is far above that amount. Her dam Scintillula (Galileo) was a Group Three winner and Group One placegetter in Ireland, and she is the dam of four winners from four foals to race. Waikato Girl's full-sister Butter Chicken (NZ) (Savabeel) placed at Group Two level, while four-time winner Stella Splendida (NZ) (Zoustar) recently sold for $410,000 on gavelhouse.com.

Waikato Girl travelled in midfield on Saturday before sneaking up one off the fence early in the run home. Rider Vlad Duric got to work in the final 200 metres and she slowly reeled in Amazonian Lass (More Than Ready) to snatch victory in the shadows of the finish line.

“Michael (Freedman, trainer) was very bullish about her with blinkers on today,” jockey Vlad Duric said. “Gee it was a rough race. There were horses that nearly fell in front of me, and the horse inside me clipped heels and bumped into her and put her into the fence.

“The win was first-class. To pick herself up and then fight at the end of the race, all credit goes to her and goes to Michael.

“She has got black type, and I know there are a few people who will be very chuffed about this win. My good friend Mike Kneebone (Director of New Zealand Bloodstock) will be rapt, so it’s very good.”

Prior to Saturday’s win, Waikato Girl had collected her first piece of black type with a placing in the Group Three Kembla Grange Classic (1600m).