Hauraki Breaks Through in Tramway Stakes

Perhaps the win of Hartnell in the Chelmsford Stakes was an omen for Godolphin's Hauraki to burst back into the winners circle in Saturday's Group II Tramway Stakes (1400m) at Randwick, after all, the last time both won was on the same day back in March 2015.

That day Hauraki won the Group II Tulloch Stakes while Hartnell won the Group 1 BMW.

Making his seasonal debut after rounding out last season when runner-up to Our Ivanhowe in the Group 1 Doomben Cup, the 5yo son of Reset ploughed through the heavy going under James McDonald to defeat the Kris Lees-trained Le Romain (Hard Spun) by three-quarters of a length with the David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig-trained Dibayani (Shamardal) another long neck back in third, in what proved a triumph for Darley stallions. (photo Steve Hart)

In earning his second stakes win, Hauraki advances his overall record to 4 wins, 6 seconds and 2 thirds from 18 starts with earnings of $1,305,660.

At three the son of Reset got within 2-lengths of super filly Winx in the Group II Phar Lap Stakes before winning the Group II Tulloch Stakes.

The Godolphin colour-bearer rounded out his classic season by splitting the high-class New Zealanders Mongolian Khan and Volkstok'n'barrell in the Group 1 ATC Australian Derby at Randwick.

Last season he was placed behind Winx in the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) and to The United States in the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m).

Godolphin's racing manager John Ferguson was in town on a rewarding day for the royal blue.

"James is riding out of his skin at the moment and as you know James came to Europe in our summer and he really performed like the world class rider he is,” Ferguson said.

"This is a horse that John obviously holds in high regard and hopefully he can go for a Group I weight-for-age (George Main) and then the Epsom.”

A half-brother to three stakes-winners including the Group 1 South Australian Derby hero Kidnapped, Hauraki is the ninth foal of the unraced Dehere (USA) mare Youthful Presence.

The family received a major update through the deeds of the champion European 3yo Golden Horn.

The third dam of Golden Horn and the fourth dam of Hauraki is the Habitat mare Loralane a half-sister to One Thousand Guineas heroine On The House.

Loralane's dam Lora is a three-quarter to Klairessa the dam of the great racemare Habibti and the even greater broodmare Eight Carat (GB).

Youthful Presence has a 2yo Sepoy filly named Nipotina, a yearling colt by Lonhro and was bred back to Lonhro last spring.