Group Two Winner for Rip Van Winkle

Moira Murdoch’s judgement proved on the money at Pukekohe Park where her unfancied mare Lasarla caused a Group Two boilover.

Her faith in the daughter of Rip Van Winkle was vindicated when the four-year-old belied her lowly Rating 64 to return a win dividend of $60 when successful in the NRM Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes on Saturday.

 "She’s always showed a lot of ability and while she had only won one race, sometimes you just have to have a go,” said Murdoch, who was joined in a training partnership at the start of this season by her daughter Kieran.

"She’s been a beautiful horse from day one, she’s never put a foot wrong and she’s just a lovely animal.”

The winner of one of her previous five starts, Lasarla was given a cosy run in the trail by rider Cameron Lammas and she rounded off strongly in the run home.

"She got a beautiful run and when she popped out at the top of the straight she got all the clear space she needed to kick on,” Murdoch said.

Lasarla was ridden by Lammas, who had been aboard the mare when she finished runner-up at the trials behind the multiple Group One winner Turn Me Loose ahead of her resuming second at Te Rapa last month.

"It’s great to get these big races and I knew that Moira has always rated this horse,” he said.

"From the good draw we jumped out and got behind the leader and she had a good kick. She’s still got a bit to learn so she will improve with the run as well.”

Pacemaker Somethingvain was clear 300 metres from home, but she had no answer to Lasarla’s finishing run while Slice Of Class, who is in foal to Makfi, earned a valuable Group Two credit with her effort for third. (photo Trish Dunell)

The favourite and previously unbeaten Francaletta raced on the pace, but she had nothing to offer in the straight and dropped out to finish 10th.

NZ Racing Desk.