Ardmore trainer Stephen McKee isn't about to let go of his Karaka Million title without a fight.
He will defend the crown he won 12 months ago with Xiong Feng with a pair of
impressive last-start winners – Star Treasure and Hasahalo, a three-quarter sister-in-blood to Group II winner Savvy Nature.
The former was successful at Ellerslie on Boxing Day and his stablemate Hasahalo wasn't to be outdone and stormed to victory in the Gr.3 Barneswood Farm Eclipse Stakes there on New Year's Day.
She wasn't able to match the early pace of the race and settled last before she powered home to exact revenge on the previously unbeaten Gift Of Power, who had pipped Hasahalo the last time they had met in the Gr.2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes.
"She just got home in time this time," McKee said. "Down the back straight I
thought she had a flat tyre, but she warmed to her work and got over them
late."
Hasahalo was ridden by Sam Spratt, who has been aboard the Savabeel filly in all three of her starts and two trials.
"She's never showed a huge amount of speed, but she has got an amazing turn of foot," she said.
"She was pretty much flat the whole way and she's been able to find a very good finish. She hit the line smartly."
Hasahalo, whose brother (Lot 193) will be offered by Waikato Stud during the Premier Sale at Karaka on January 30, is raced by the Go Racing Fright Night Syndicate managed by Albert Bosma, whose syndication company won the 2013 Karaka Million with Ruud Awakening.
Sunday's runner-up Gift Of Power was far from disgraced after racing keenly early outside the leader while Gold Fever took third ahead of Princess Rihanna, who made ground well after missing the jump. – NZ Racing Desk.
