Trans-Tasman Group 1 Victories for Karaka Grads

Zarita and Pasta Post continued the stellar run of Karaka graduates of late, scoring Group 1 success on both sides of the Tasman on Saturday.

In the First Sovereign Trust Easter Handicap (1600m) apprentice rider Craig Grylls positioned Pasta Post (Postponed x Blue Heaven by Centaine) handily from a wide draw to produce an impressive dash down the Ellerslie straight. The four-year-old crossed the line a half-length ahead of Sterling Prince (Colombia x Sterling Princess by One Pound Sterling) and Culminate (Elnadim x Solstice by Marceau) .

It was the second Group 1 win for Graeme and Mark Sanders father-son training partnership, after Prize Lady won the Group 1 Stella Artois Auckland Cup in March. Both horses were purchased as yearlings at the Karaka Select Sale, Prize Lady from Fayette Park Stud for NZ$13,500 while Pasta Post, who was bred by Fayette Park and sold through Little Avondale Stud, was knocked down to Sanders for NZ$22,000.

Having raced on ten occasions for eight wins, he will now spell and resume in time for a tilt at the Hawkes Bay's Triple Crown Series in the Spring. His only two defeats came in the Group 1 NZ Derby last year and a last start tenth to Young Centaur in the Group 1 Wellington Cup.

Meanwhile in South Australia, star three-year-old filly Zarita (Pentire x Gin Player by Defensive Play) made it back to back Group 1 victories by winning the Group 1 South Australian Derby (2500m) at Morphettville.

Following up her recent Group 1 Schweppes Oaks (2000m) triumph, this time she took on the boys, crossing the line three-quarters-of-a-length ahead of the very talented David Hayes-trained Zagreb (Zabeel x Dansino by Danehill) and Neugine (Genuine x Miss Dewars by Whiskey Road).

With an impressive seven wins from just 11 starts to her credit, Zarita has now won A$950,750. Her next assignment will be the Group 1 AJC Oaks at Randwick at the end of April.

Bred by Scott Williams, the co-breeder of Melbourne Cup winner Efficient, the filly was sold by Rich Hill Stud at the 2006 Karaka Premier Sale for NZ$195,000 to Victoria-based Pendant Equine Syndicate. Last season the unraced mare, Gin Player, foaled a colt by Pins and was served by Zabeel.

The dam-sires of both Zarita and Pasta Post have stood at the Chittick family's Waikato Stud, with both - Centaine and Defensive Play - proving more and more successful as broodmare sires. Having shuttled to Waikato Stud from 1993 to 1998, Defensive Play produced two Group 1 winners in Mythical Play and Millward while through his daughters he boasts the likes of Efficient (Zabeel), dual Group 1 winner Sirmione (Encosta de Lago), NZB Filly of the Year Series winner Tattletail (Faltaat) plus Group 1 Santa Anita Handicap winner Heatseeker (Giants Causeway). Amongst his five stakes wins as a racehorse he won two Group 1 events.

Both Defensive Play and Centaine will be represented by daughters at New Zealand Bloodstock's National Weanling, Broodmare & Mixed Bloodstock Sale at Karaka on 11, 12 & 13 May.