Miss Waititi (NZ) Produces Bold Oaks Audition

Next month’s Group One VRC Oaks (2500m) is looming large on the horizon for Karaka 2025 graduate Miss Waititi (NZ) (Circus Maximus) following an emphatic victory in the A$175,000 Listed Howden Super Impose Stakes (1800m) at Flemington on Saturday. 

Miss Waititi was a member of the Karaka 2025 Book 1 draft of her co-breeders Windsor Park Stud, but she failed to meet her $80,000 reserve. She has now had three starts for a black-type win, a placing and A$112,125 in stakes.

Purchased privately after a placing at the Avondale trials last December, Miss Waititi finished sixth on debut at Sandown in June, then returned from a freshen-up with an eye-catching third over 1600 metres at Seymour on September 10.

The step up to 1800 metres on Saturday proved to be ideal for Miss Waititi, who was ridden by Craig Williams and settled in sixth place along the inside. When the leaders rolled away from the fence at the home turn, Williams set his sights on that gap.

He asked Miss Waititi to quicken and she delivered, bursting through along the inside and going clear to win by two and a half lengths.

“The stable has always had a really big opinion of this filly, and hence why they asked me to go to Seymour to ride her for Tim Porter in the Bella Nipotina colours,” Williams said. “It’s great to be riding in her colours again, and this is a really nice, promising filly.

“Putting the blinkers on was a good move. She drew a gate and she jumped and was more mature. Just from her first-up run to today, she’s really come on.

“She was good today, a decisive win, and the Oaks is definitely where she should be going.”

Mick Price, who trains in partnership with Michael Kent, confirmed that the Oaks at Flemington on November 5 is now the target.

“We do a lot of work with Phill Cataldo,” Price said. “We look at four or five a month and probably buy one – it’s not easy. But this one is going to the Oaks.

“Tim Porter (owner) said to me, ‘Any chance you can give me an Oaks runner?’ I said, ‘Right, we’ve got Miss Waititi, a horse that hasn’t broken its maiden status – no worries.’

“Anyway, we’ve plotted a course, and we went to the 1800 metres today because I thought the Edward Manifold (Group Two, 1600m) might be a bit sharp for her. ‘Willo’ gave her a brilliant ride – followed the favourite, blew his whistle and up he went.”

Vendor	Windsor Park Stud
Purchaser
Breeding	Circus Maximus – Fritillary
Sale	Lot 626, Karaka 2025 Book 1, Psd (Res $80,000)
Breeder	Katom, C W Kwok & Windsor Park Stud Ltd
Owner	Mr T N Porter, Mrs B E Porter, Miss M Porter, Miss J L Porter, R & C Legh Racing Pty Ltd, Mr P B Price, Mr J Mckittrick, Mrs L A C McKittrick, Mr M J Glasscock, Mrs N J Glasscock, Mr J H Glasscock, Mr D E Gwynne, Mr S D Brown, Mrs L M Brown, Mr A B Matthews, Mrs L J Matthews, Mrs V J Cowley, Mr J A J Cowley