Australians Take Another Ellerslie Prize
- Sunday, 31 January 2010 08:15
Australian stables made their second successful raid on Ellerslie in a month when Sister Havana ran away with the Karaka Million at Ellerslie.
Sister Havana's victory followed that by Sydney sprinter Gold Trail in the Group One Railway Handicap on New Year's Day.
Sunday's race was an all Queensland affair with the filly ridden by Stathi Katsidis for trainer Liam Birchley.
Katsidis had Sister Havana well positioned on the rail and bided his time until the field straightened.
He eased the filly off the fence and through a gap 100 metres out and she dashed to a 1-3/4 length win over Icepin with Banchee another half head third.
It was Birchley's second attempt on the race after Sarge In Charge ran second to The Heckler last year.
The $NZ1 million race for two-year-olds is restricted to horses sold at the Karaka Sale in Auckland with this year's auction to begin on Monday.
By General Nediym out of Ultima Vita, Sister Havana was a $40,000 purchase at last year's sale and came into the race with one win from three starts.
"She was probably a little under size compared to what I normally like to buy," Birchley said.
"But she was a lovely type and I was surprised to get her for that sort of money."
It was the second rich sales incentive race victory in two weeks for Katsidis, who won the $2 million Magic Millions Classic aboard Military Rose on the Gold Coast.
The victories have shown that Katsidis has put problems of a fractured leg and a ban for recreational drug use well behind him.
"I've shown in the past that I'm a good rider but I haven't always had the dedication," Katsidis said.
"I think that now is the first time in my life that I've really dedicated myself to riding and it's a great thrill to win two valuable races so quickly."
Birchley said he was now likely to spell Sister Havana and aim her for two-year-old prizes at the Queensland winter carnival.
Sydney jockey Hugh Bowman finished 11th on Brave Warrior while Melbourne visitor Michael Rodd's mount Hoofit beat just one runner home after showing early pace.
NZPA AKL
