Vatuvei Caps off Big Day for Karaka at the Valley

The lightly raced Vatuvei (Reset x Boisterous Lady) capped off a brilliant day for Karaka graduates at Moonee Valley on Saturday with victory in the A$250,000 Group 2 Drake International Cup (2500m).

Trained by Peter Moody, Vatuvei holds a nomination for next Tuesday’s Group 1 Melbourne Cup but looks unlikely to contest this year’s edition being 44th in the Order of Entry. But the four-year-old has stamped himself as a potential candidate for 2013.

The son of Reset (by Zabeel) has only been to the races 15 times during his career and is shaping up as a top stayer with Saturday’s win seeing him beat some seasoned performers. Ridden by Luke Nolen in Saturday’s Group 2, Vatuvei was near last at the 800 metres and raced clear in the straight to a 1.5 length victory.

Vatuvei won the Listed St Leger (2800m) at Flemington last season and Saturday’s victory was his third from 15 career starts, taking his stakes earnings to over A$315,000 for his owners Sitralos Racing, Mr C Sharpe, Mr A Coates, Mr J Phyland, Horsing Around, Mr P Clarke, The Bredhim, Mr H Overall, Mr S Bilalis and Cavalluccio.

Bred by Caradale Pty, Cobra Bloodstock Australia Pty & Austramore Pty, Vatuvei was purchased by Peter Moody from Hallmark Stud at New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2010 Karaka Premier Sale for $150,000.