Hasahalo, Embellish to face off in Karaka Mile
Who did it better?
Hasahalo came from near the back of the field to win the 1000 Guineas by four lengths on Saturday and seven days earlier Embellish was all class with his one and a quarter length win in the
2000 Guineas.
Any comparisons between the pair of Group I winners will become a lot clearer in January when they will likely clash in the $1 million Karaka Mile at Ellerslie.
The short odds would be on Embellish but the connections of Hasahalo can be more than confident their filly is up for the challenge in an intriguing battle of the sexes.
Embellish was not in the Karaka Million twoyear-old race when Hasahalo ran second to Melody Belle but it was proof Hasahalo can hold her own against the colts.
The way she won on Saturday, who could write her off?
The Karaka Mile is shaping as an intriguing battle with Te Akau stablemates Embellish and Melody Belle likely to be in the race.
Hasahalo’s trainer Stephen McKee indicated she would be set for the race following her breathtaking victory at Riccarton on Saturday.
Also likely to head to Ellerslie is Saturday’s New Zealand Cup winner Gobstopper.
The Andrew Campbell-trained Tavistock five-year-old gelding, who is a full brother to champion galloper Werther, won the Cup courtesy of a daring front-running ride from Sam Spratt.
His win completed a memorable hour and a half period for Spratt who was fresh from her Group I win aboard Hasahalo.
Gobstopper is nominated for the Group I Auckland Cup - over the same 3200-metre distance that he ran out with ease on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Riccarton trainers Michael and Matt Pitman finished the Cup week carnival with a pair of winners on Saturday – Mr Typhon and Why Me – to take their total over the three days at Riccarton to eight.
Their success across the carnival was highlighted by Son Of Maher’s shared win with Shadows Cast in Wednesday’s Group II $230,000 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile and Enzo’s Lad’s victory in the $50,000 Listed Yesberg Insurance Services Pegasus Stakes on 2000 Guineas day.
Their dominance of the carnival was perhaps best illustrated in race two on Saturday when they trained the first four runners home with Zakynthos, Saronic Miss and Prince Ransom trailing Why Me home.
South Island trainers missed out on the two Group I races but the Kevin and Pam Hughes trained Carnival scored another feature win for the mainlanders in the Group III $100,000 Lindauer Stewards Stakes on Wednesday.
The exciting sprinter will be aimed at the $250,000 Group I Telegraph Handicap on January 20 at Trentham.
The Terri Rae-trained Aspen Lass was another feature winner for the south with her victory in the Redwood Metropolitan Trophy Handicap on the opening day of the carnival.
All up, South Island trained horses won 22 of the 33 races at Riccarton.