Hasahalo (NZ) Excels in gavelhouse.com New Zealand 1000 Guineas

Savabeel filly Hasahalo (NZ) was one of the best two-year-old fillies of her generation last season, and on Saturday she roared into New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year contention with a block-buster performance in the $300,000 Group 1 gavelhouse.com New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton.

The winner of the Group 3 Eclipse Stakes (1200m) on New Year’s Day and a fast-finishing second in the Karaka Million (1200m) four weeks later, Hasahalo had failed to fire in two spring starts in a campaign plagued by wet weather.

On Saturday she finally stuck a dry track and she relished the 1600 metres at roomy Riccarton, flying home from well back in the field with Sam Spratt in the saddle. She hit the lead inside the last 200 metres and romped away, opening up a commanding winning margin of four lengths at the line.

The second and third placegetters were Dijon Bleu (NZ) (Burgundy) and The Lustre (NZ) (Darci Brahma).

“She went past them like they were tied to the ground,” Spratt said. “When I asked her to go she had fire coming out her back end.”

Trained by Stephen McKee for the Go Racing Fright Night Breeding Partnership, Hasahalo has now had nine starts for two wins, two placings and $411,000 in prize-money.

Hasahalo was bred by Isabel O’Shea and Waikato Stud, and she was a $110,000 purchase at the 2016 Premier Sale at Karaka.

The win completed a remarkable Guineas double for Waikato Stud and their champion stallion Savabeel. The previous Saturday’s $500,000 Group 1 Al Basti Equiworld New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) was won by the Waikato Stud-bred Embellish (NZ) – a Savabeel colt bought at Karaka for $775,000.

Victory in the 1000 Guineas earned Hasahalo 12 points for the Filly of the Year Series, moving her up to second place on the table. Dijon Bleu already had 6 points from her win in the Group 3 Gold Trail Stakes (1600m), and she earned another 7 points for her 1000 Guineas second placing to retain her lead with 13 points. Guineas third placegetter The Lustre has moved into third with 3.5 points.

The Filly of the Year Series continues next month with the $70,000 Group 3 LawnMaster Eulogy Stakes (1600m) at Awapuni on December 16.