Valuable Group 2 Victory for The Real Beel (NZ)

In the twilight of her racing career, Karaka graduate The Real Beel (NZ) (Savabeel) claimed a valuable Group 2 victory in Saturday’s $100,000 Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m) at Te Rapa.

Bought for $110,000 by David Ellis at the 2017 Premier Sale, The Real Beel had emerged as a potential top-liner with a huge run for second in the $1m Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie last January.

She had a luckless spring campaign in Australia and has since returned to the Tauranga stable of Jim Pender. She is in foal to Waikato Stud stallion Tivaci.

On Saturday she claimed her first black-type win, producing an explosive burst in the straight to mow down Guillada (NZ) (Guillotine), Pinmedown (NZ) (Pins), Yearn (NZ) (Savabeel) and Queen of Diamonds (NZ) (Savabeel) in a tight finish.

The Real Beel has now won two of her 18 starts and more than $252,000 in prize-money, but as a stakes-winning descendant of the great mare Eight Carat (Pieces of Eight), her value is far greater than that.

“With her being in foal, we need to pick up these black-type races,” Pender said. “It’s an amazing result. For Garry (Chittick, owner) to give her back to me, I’m just rapt.

“She didn’t have a lot of luck in Australia. She’s a funny little girl. I had to change around a few boxes until she was happy and comfortable when she got home.

“My son (Kelly) does all the work on her. He just loves her, and she just gets on so well with him.”