Velocious Reigns Supreme in Group One Sistema Stakes

$1m TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) heroine Velocious (Written Tycoon) returned to Ellerslie on Saturday and confirmed her position as the season’s standout New Zealand two-year-old.

The $450,000 Group One Sistema Stakes (1200m) was the fourth win from five starts for Velocious, who has earned $915,750 in stakes for the Go Racing Burrata Syndicate. The exceptional chestnut filly was bought by Go Racing for $190,000 from the Book 1 draft of breeders Inglewood Stud at Karaka 2023.

Velocious burst on the scene with victories in the first two starts of her career in November, including the Listed Counties Challenge Stakes (1100m). A fighting third on a rain-affected track in the Group Two Eclipse Stakes (1200m) set her up for her shot at Karaka Millions glory in late January, where she romped home by two and a quarter lengths in a scintillating performance.

Saturday’s Sistema Stakes presented a new challenge, with her opposition including Captured By Love (Written Tycoon) – a winner of all of her four starts to date including three at black-type level. But once again Velocious cast all of her rivals aside.

Ridden by Sam Spratt, Velocious showed brilliant speed out of the starting gates and took up a position outside the leader.

She rounded the home turn and went into overdrive, producing a blistering turn of foot that none of her rivals could match and quickly opening up a big advantage in the straight.

Archaic Smile (Saxon Warrior) and Captured By Love tried their hardest to reel her in, but Velocious kept well out of reach and scored by three-quarters of a length.

“That feels great,” trainer Stephen Marsh said. “She’s a great filly, a Karaka Millions winner, and now she’s a Group One winner. That just tops it all off.

“I was nervous coming into today, but I’m just happy it’s done and dusted and she’s got it. She sprinted hard and she’s got a great turn of foot.”

Velocious was ridden to victory by Sam Spratt.

“That was just awesome,” she said. “She just did as much as she needed to. If the others had come up, she would have dug in again. It was a great run.”

Go Racing kept it in the family earlier this year, returning to Book 1 of Karaka 2024 and buying a half-sister to Velocious for $300,000. The filly by Dundeel (NZ) was also offered by Inglewood Stud.

Runner-up Archaic Smile was a $55,000 purchase from Book 1 of Karaka 2023. Her five-start career has produced two wins, including the Listed Wellesley Stakes (1100m), and she has earned $162,750.

Vendor	Inglewood Stud
Purchaser	Go Racing (Auckland)
Breeding	Written Tycoon – Parmalove
Sale	Lot 412, Karaka 2023 Book 1, $190,000
Bred by	Inglewood Stud