Group One Galloper Stars in Karaka Cup

Proven top-level performer Tiptronic (NZ) (O’Reilly) returned to top form with a commanding victory in Saturday’s $100,000 CollinsonForex Karaka Cup (2200m) at Ellerslie, setting up a potential defence of his Group One crown at Te Rapa next month. 

Bought for $100,000 from Waikato Stud’s draft at the 2015 Premier Sale by Richardson Racing, Tiptronic has won seven races and more than $570,000 in stakes – headed by an elite-level triumph in the Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa last February.

Tiptronic had little luck through his first six appearances this season, including a brave last-start fifth in the Group One Zabeel Classic (2000m) on Boxing Day. But on Saturday he took fortune out of the equation with a powerful front-running performance.

The seven-year-old was sent straight to the lead by jockey Wiremu Pinn, and that was where he stayed. Scaglioni (NZ) (Nicconi) charged forward in a bold move down the back straight to challenge for the lead, but Tiptronic lifted and held on to his advantage.

He never looked back from there, upping the ante down the side of the track and into the home straight. High-class favourite In A Twinkling (Fastnet Rock) tried to run him down, but Tiptronic was well out of his reach and swept to victory by two lengths.

“This is a big thrill,” said Graham Richardson, who trains in partnership with Rogan Norvall. “He’s won seven races now, and he’s an amazing horse – he just tries so hard.

“The instructions were to go forward, and he won impressively. I’m very happy for the owners, and it’s great to see many of them here on course for this tonight.

“He’s just such a special horse who never lets us down. It means a lot to win a race like this on Karaka Million night, and now hopefully it’ll set us up nicely for another shot at the Herbie Dyke at Te Rapa (on February 13).”

Tiptronic is the second Group One winner to capture the Karaka Cup, which was added to the Karaka Million Series in 2014. In 2017 it was won by the Auckland Cup (3200m) heroine Chenille (NZ) (Pentire).

Runner-up In A Twinkling was a $250,000 purchase at the 2017 Premier Sale and has now earned more than $475,000 in his 25-start career. The third placegetter was Sir Nate (NZ) (Nadeem), who was picked up for $65,000 at the 2017 Select Sale and has won over $250,000 in stakes.