Classy New Zealand Bloodstock graduate, Wahid (Almutawakel x Rory's Helen), scored a convincing all the way victory on Saturday in the Gr.1 Mercedes New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie.

The three-year-old gelding crossed the field from a wide barrier and was rated to perfection by rider Leith Innes, carving out solid sectional before powering away from his rivals in the straight, winning in a time of 2:27.42.

Owned by Taranaki based Ron and Noel Stanley, Wahid started favourite in the event and scored by one and a quarter lengths from Roman Chariot (Faltaat x Fairy Lights), with the wayward Charliehorse (Bahhare x Rebus) in third.

A graduate of the 2004 Select Yearling Sale at Karaka, Wahid was purchased from the draft of Trelawney Stud for NZ$50,000 by his trainer, Allan Sharrock.

An outstanding two-year-old, Wahid took out New Zealand's richest juvenile event winning the $500,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Classique (1200m) as well as being placed in both the Gr.1 Ellerslie Sires Produce Stakes and the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes.

Unplaced only once in 16 starts, Wahid recorded his first Group One success when downing glamour filly, Shikoba (Chief Bearhart x Shikoba) in the Courtesy Ford Levin Classic in November (1600m).

The son of Almutawakel silenced many of his critics who doubted his staying ability when successful in the Gr.2 Mercedes Championship Stakes (2100m) a fortnight ago and controlled Saturday's Derby from the outset. Almutawakel, a dual Gr. 1 winner whose wins included the Dubai World Cup, stood at Haunui Farm in New Zealand in the 2001 breeding season.

Second placegetter, Roman Chariot, trained by Graeme Rogerson and Stephen Autridge, continued his consistent form line following on from a solid fourth in the Championship Stakes. The son of Faltaat was purchased by Rogerson Bloodstock for $145,000 from the draft of The Oaks Stud at the 2004 Premier Yearling Sale.

Although beaten by more than three lengths, third placegetter Charliehorse was one of the hard luck stories in the race with the Lance O'Sullivan trained galloper costing himself many lengths when drifting out sharply towards the Grandstand rail when making good ground in the straight.

Trainer, Allan Sharrock, confirmed Wahid will now be sent for a well deserved spell with a tilt at weight for age events, the Kelt Capital Stakes and the W.S. Cox Plate, on the agenda in the Spring.

La Sizeranne Claims Darley Plate

In the Group Three event at Ellerslie, the Roger James trained La Sizeranne (Stravinsky x Tricia Ann) caused a minor upset when successful in the Darley Plate (1200m) on Saturday.

The four-year-old Stravinsky mare was having her first start since finishing second in the Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile on New Year's day. Ridden by Mark Hills, La Sizeranne scored by a long neck from favourite, Gee I Jane (Jahafil x Miss Distinction), who was held up for a run in the straight before finishing stoutly. The Jim Gibbs trained Vaalu (Volksraad x Shepherd's Delight) finished third.

La Sizeranne continues the fine run enjoyed by Cambridge Stud based sire, Stravinsky, who was also represented by Serenade Rose (Stravinsky x Rose Of Tralee), winner of the Gr.2 Angus Armanasco Stakes in Melbourne on Saturday, in addition to Chinese Dragon (Stravinsky x Fabulous Fairy), Group One placed in the Frank E Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita.

Owned by Jack Maronde, La Sizeranne recorded her third stakes victory when successful in the Darley Plate in addition to her Group One placing behind Justa Tad (Istidaad x Infinity) in the New Zealand One Thousand Guineas at three.

La Sizeranne will be aimed towards Group One events, the Easter Handicap (1600m) at Ellerslie and the New Zealand Bloodstock Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes (1600m) at Te Aroha.

Trainer Neville Couchman paid NZ$70,000 for a Spectatorial half-brother to his stable star, Gee I Jane, at the 2006 Karaka Premier Sale.

Mount Street Scores Impressive Singapore Victory

Former New Zealand Derby runner-up Mount Street (Kilimanjaro x Real Trier) took out the feature event at Kranji in Singapore on Friday night, successful in the S$100,000 Open Handicap over 2000m.

Ridden by Sam Subian, the five-year-old gelding lead throughout for a comfortable two length victory, defeating War Horn and Cyberical.

Mount Street, a half brother to triple Group One winner, Sedecrem (by Faltaat) was offered for Sale at the 2002 Select Yearling Sale through the draft of Westbury Stud.

Friday night's victory was the first by the son of Kilimanjaro since relocating to Singapore, however, Mount Street has been placed in a string of big races including last year's Singapore Gold Cup.

Ballymore Stable Unveils Exciting Juvenile

Aptly named two-year-old, The One (O'Reilly x The Grin), made a winning debut on at Ellerslie on Saturday when successful in the Radio Network 2YO (1200m).

From the Ballymore Stables of Mike Moroney & Andrew Scott, The One is a full brother to Group One winner, The Jewel, and a half-brother to Group 2 winner, Star Affair (Star Affair).

The One was well ridden by in form jockey, Jason Waddell, scoring by a length and a half from Hitman (Summer Suspicion x Hit The Target) with Post Thyme (Postponed x Cardamom) in third.

Purchased by Moroney Bloodstock at the 2005 Karaka Premier Yearling Sale, The One races in the same colours as last year's Caulfield Cup winner, Railings (Zabeel x La Suffragette), in a syndicate headed by Gerard Peterson.