Impressive Pukekohe Wins By Karaka Graduates

The $100,000 NRM Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes at Pukekohe on Saturday turned into an all-Karaka affair as graduates of New Zealand Bloodstock Sales finished first, second and third in the prestigious Group 2 event.

The winner was Lasarla (Rip Van Winkle), who took a giant step up from Rating 65 grade to beat a star-studded field of fillies and mares in just her sixth career start.

Ridden by Cameron Lammas, the four-year-old trailed the leaders before charging to victory with a powerful burst down the home straight.

“She's always showed a lot of ability and while she had only won one race, sometimes you just have to have a go,” said Moira Murdoch, who trains the mare in partnership with her daughter Kieran.

"She's been a beautiful horse from day one, she's never put a foot wrong and she's just a lovely animal.”

Bred by Emblem Ltd, Lasarla is out of the Italian-bred Danehill mare Imco Main, the dam of seven winners including the stakes winner Changing Eyes (Black Minnaloushe).

Lasarla was offered by Mapperley Stud at the 2014 NZB Karaka Select Sale but fell short of her $35,000 reserve. Retained by her breeders to race, she has now had two wins and two placings from six starts for prize-money earnings of $73,625.

Runner-up Somethingvain (Falkirk) was bought for just $1100 at the 2012 National Weanling, Broodmare & Mixed Bloodstock Sale. She has had 16 starts for five wins, two placings and $114,350 in stakes.

Third-placed Slice Of Class (Guillotine) is also a Karaka graduate, selling for $11,000 at the 2011 National Weanling, Broodmare & Mixed Bloodstock Sale. She has had 26 starts for four wins, eight placings and $135,385 in prize-money.

• EXCITING O’Reilly filly Talaria, a graduate of the 2016 Premier Sale at Karaka, made the perfect start to her career when she won Saturday’s Listed Murdoch Newell Stakes (1100m) at Pukekohe at her first race start.

The winner of both of her trials appearances, Talaria was the favourite to make a winning debut against an accomplished field of juveniles.

She showed explosive speed out of the gates to go straight to the front, and that was where she stayed as she repelled the late challenge of Oscar Eight win by a head. She was ridden by Mark Du Plessis for trainers Peter and Dawn Williams and Paul Richards.

Talaria is owned by Sarah Green and Ger Beemsterboer, who have enjoyed great success with Karaka graduates in recent years with Planet Rock (Fastnet Rock), who won five races including the G1 NZ 1000 Guineas, and Vavasour (Redoute’s Choice), who won three stakes races.

Bred by Mrs R Kerr-Taylor & Mrs A K Storey, Talaria was offered by Mapperley Stud at the 2016 Premier Sale. Beemsterboer bought her for $100,000.

A daughter of the stakes-placed Golan mare Alberton Princess, Talaria has a full sibling nominated for the upcoming National Yearling Sales Series, with Mapperley Stud offering an O’Reilly colt.

The Murdoch Newell Stakes was an all-Karaka result, with runner-up Oscar Eight (Showcasing) being purchased for $21,000 at the Festival Sale and third-placed Nothin’ On Me (Not A Single Doubt) selling for $100,000 at the Premier Sale.