House Of Cartier Dazzles in Group Three Metric Mile

With the end of her racing career in sight, blue-blooded Karaka graduate House Of Cartier (Alamosa) collected a hugely valuable first win at stakes level in Saturday’s $80,000 Group Three Boehringer Ingelheim Metric Mile (1600m) at Awapuni. 

Passed in at the 2017 Premier Sale with a reserve of $250,000, the daughter of four-time Group One winner Shez Sinsational (NZ) (Ekraar) has had 33 starts for four wins, five placings and more than $300,000 in stakes. She had previously placed in the Group One Schweppes Oaks (2000m) in Australia, along with the Group Two Eight Carat Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie.

On Saturday she unleashed an irresistible run down the outside of the Awapuni home straight, soaring from second last to take a clear lead in the hands of in-form jockey Sarah Macnab. Her margin was still growing as she crossed the finish line two and a quarter lengths ahead of quality gelding Beauden (NZ) (Bullbars).

Trainer Peter Didham is now considering a shot at the Group One Livamol Classic (2040m) at Hastings on October 16 – a race won by House Of Cartier’s dam Shez Sinsational in 2012.

“It was a bit of a risk going fresh-up into a mile at this level, but she is just so well in herself for this campaign,” Didham told NZ Racing Desk. “It’s the best I’ve had her since she got back from Australia, and her trial win was very impressive.

“We needed to get the win today if we were going to qualify for the Livamol, and she did the job in fine fashion.

“I think this will most likely be her last campaign before she goes to stud, so I want to make sure we get it right for her. She can have a few quiet days before we look at where to go next. and it might be she goes straight to the Livamol.”

House Of Cartier became the second stakes winner for Shez Sinsational, who is also the dam of the Listed Wairarapa Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) winner and Group One Thorndon Mile (1600m) runner-up Sinarahma (NZ) (Darci Brahma).

Through the four years since House Of Cartier went through the Karaka sale ring, Shez Sinsational’s progeny have sold at Karaka for $300,000, $190,000 and $420,000.