Karaka Trifecta at Tauherenikau

Talented mares Tabata (NZ) (Savabeel), Cruz Ramirez (Myboycharlie) and Serena (NZ) (Swiss Ace), who were all purchased at Karaka, collected the first piece of valuable black type for their pedigree pages with first, second and third placings in Monday’s $50,000 Listed Property Brokers Wairarapa Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at Tauherenikau. 

Tabata is raced by the former star cricketer and Black Caps captain Brendon McCullum, and she is trained by Stephen Marsh at Cambridge. Bought for $100,000 from Waikato Stud’s draft at Karaka 2018, the daughter of champion sire Savabeel has now won three races in a highly promising 10-start career to date, earning $60,850 in stakes.

Runner-up Cruz Ramirez was a $30,000 purchase at the 2017 Select Sale and has now earned $56,475, while third-placed Serena cost $17,000 at the 2018 Ready to Run Sale and has amassed $42,785.

Tabata’s victory came with a flying finish from third-last in Monday’s fillies and mares’ feature.

Cruz Ramirez had enjoyed an ideal run just behind the leader, and she took control around the home turn in what looked like a winning move.

But then Tabata and jockey Danielle Johnson roared down the outside of the track, catching Cruz Ramirez right on the line and scoring by a half-head.

“She is still lightly raced, but we were hoping to pick up some black type for her record when she eventually goes to the broodmares’ paddock,” Marsh said.

“She has got a very good finish on her, and when she started to pick up halfway down the straight, I started to think we might snatch third – but her last 50 metres was just phenomenal.

“She is very honest. She goes well in the wet, and today she showed she handles it firm as well – by the time they ran the race, the track was pretty hard underfoot.

“She has had two big trips away now, here and to Trentham last time, so a few easy days in the paddock won’t hurt and we can think about our autumn targets.

“Her breeding and the way she handled the 1600 metres today suggests to me a race like the Travis Stakes (Group Two, 2000m) in April might be an ideal target.”