Karavali wins 2018 City Ford Aspiration Qlty Group 3 $150,000 at Randwick (NSW), 1600m.
Kris Lees-trained mare Karavali improved on her first up second in a Benchmark 80 (1550m) at Canterbury on 16 February to narrowly take out this Group Three race, her first stakes victory in 15 starts.
She settled nicely in seventh place on the rails from her inside barrier (1), improved between runners on straightening, got into clear running at the 200m and then ran on well to grab a head victory in the last few strides.
The favourite The Pinnacle enjoyed a good trip in fourth place (one out and one back), moved up at the home turn, briefly hit the front at the 50m only to be overhauled right on the post to finish second.
Nettoyer raced in sixth place, improved (deep) from the 600m, sprinted well from the 200m and kept finishing nicely for a close up third while Pioneering held on for (0.8 lengths) fourth after running a bold race in the lead.
