Vespa Speeds to Karaka Million Glory

Young Otaki trainerJohno Benner captured the biggest win of his career with Vespa (NZ) (Elusive City) triumphant in the Res. Listed $1m Karaka Million (1200m) – New Zealand’s richest race – that sparked jubilant celebrations in the birdcage at Ellerslie.

Vespa (NZ) returning to scale after winning the $1m Karaka Million.

On the same night last year, Benner and his owners John Norwood and Chris Rutten, came close to winning the million dollar feature with Touche (NZ) (Thorn Park) chasing home Ruud Awakening and Fantastic Honour to run third.

The trio returned a year later with Vespa who started as the race-favourite on the back of a great start to his career, winning two of his first four starts and running an unlucky third at his last start in the Group 3 Eclipse Stakes at Ellerslie.

Leading rider Mark du Plessis bounced Vespa out from an inside gate to lead the field. On a rain affected track, du Plessis elected to stay hard against the rail and the pair had a fight on their hands as Riding Shotgun (NZ) (Iffraaj) emerged from the pack to challenge one off the rail.

Riding Shotgun went to Vespa and looked as though he might go past him but Vespa found some more, pulling away from the field to land victory by 1.6 lengths over Riding Shotgun, with the fast finishing O’Marilyn (NZ) (O’Reilly) dashing home late in the race for third.

“He was ultra-impressive,” remarked a delighted Benner. “He is professional and tries really hard, he is clearly very good.

“He didn’t like the track, we are confident he is a better horse on good ground but he just dealt with it.

“He has always showed plenty of ability. He is definitely the best horse I have had. I have only been training for three or four years after being a jockey earlier in my career.

“The owners are very good supporters of mine. He was only $34,000 and was very good buying. Chris (Rutten) purchased him and he does a very good job at buying value horses. We went to Karaka and bought him specifically as a Karaka Million horse.

“We will just get him home now. There is the Group 1 Diamond Stakes back at Ellerslie in a month but we will see how he is, the horse comes first.”

Vespa’s record now reads three wins from five starts with two minor placings for impressive career earnings of $577,150 for John Norwood and Chris Rutten.

Vespa was purchased by Cavallo Agistment Centre for only $34,000 at the 2013 Karaka Select Sale from Valachi Downs. He becomes the third winner of the Karaka Million to come through the Select Sale and is the least expensive winner of the richest race in New Zealand in its seven-year history.

The $1 million Karaka Million is an incentive race for two-year-old nominated graduates of New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sales Series. All horses sold at Karaka this week are eligible to enter the enhance Karaka Million Series featuring the $1 million 2YO race in 2014, the $250,000 Karaka 3YO Mile, and the new $100,000 Karaka Stayers Cup. Selling at Karaka 2014 begin today with the Premier Sale at 11am.

Nominations for the 2014 Karaka Million close on Tuesday 5 March 2014 at 5pm with the NZ$1,750 + GST entry fee per horse. Conditions apply.