Hashizume hot in features double
Red-hot jockey Masa Hashizume added further plaudits to an already outstanding season when he piloted Karman Line to a deserved victory in the Rotorua Stakes yesterday.
Hashizume has already smashed his previous season’s best tally of 33 victories set in the 2021-22 racing year, with a total of 53 wins at the close of play yesterday.
Seven stakes victories are among those, including the wins by Karman Line and Bella Waters, who had earlier taken out the Listed Rotorua Cup (2200m) yesterday.
In a carbon copy of his Rotorua Cup ride, Hashizume allowed the Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scottprepared daughter of Myboycharlie to find her feet near the rear before sneaking runs near the rail approaching the home bend.
As the field fanned across the track, Karman Line found clear air three off the rail and charged to the lead before holding out heavily backed favourite La Crique ($2.10) by a head, with Imprevu finishing strongly out wide to shade Mary Shan for third.
Scott was pleased to see his charge get the win after being narrowly beaten in her previous start when she was run down late by Freeze Frame over the same distance at Te Rapa.
“They are winning close in, so we thought there was no point in going wide,” Scott said.
“She had got away on us a little and just peaked on her run last time, but she has had a really good fortnight since.
“La Crique has had every chance to pick her up and she has pinned her ears back and fought her off.
“This mare has really hit a sweet spot, as she’s had other campaigns where she never held her condition, but she’s really muscled up now and her best racing is still in front of her.
“She’s a really talented mare who has shown glimpses from time to time and it’s fantastic for a loyal bunch of owners who have shown great patience.”
Bred by the Little Avondale Trust, Karman Line is out of Pierro mare World Away and is the granddaughter of American Group 1 winner Miss World, while her extended family also includes Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m) winner Miss Finland.
She was purchased by Wexford Stables for $67,500 from the Book 2 Sale at Karaka in 2020 and has won three of her 18 starts and more than $215,000 for her large group of connections.
Bella Waters’ win earlier adds to her future broodmare value but with the promise of more to come as a potentially bigger Cups horse.
Bred and raced by Brendan and Jo Lindsay, Bella Waters is by Sacred Falls out of the Irish-bred mare But Beautiful. That makes her a half-sister to Immediacy, a classy Melbourne 3-year-old who won this season’s Group 2 Autumn Classic (1800m) at Caulfield.
Bella Waters made her debut only seven months ago, finishing fourth over 1200m at Tauranga on October 18. The 4-year-old has come a long way in a short time since, scoring a maiden win at Ruaka¯ka¯ and a Rating 65 victory at New Plymouth before stepping up to the big time in her ninth career start in yesterday’s $100,000 staying feature.