Banchee Wins the Karaka 3YO Mile

Last night's running of the $200,000 NZB Insurance Karaka 3YO Mile saw last season's Champion Two-Year-Old Banchee back to her best as she dealt to the 18 strong field.

Spotting the leaders a good 10 lengths at the point of the turn, Banchee (Oratorio x Miss Jessie Jay) came right around the field in the straight and immediately went after the leading pack. With a sustained run down the length of the Ellerslie straight, she was simply too strong for the field as she romped home by two-and-a-half lengths.

The John Sargent trained filly looks to have regained the form that won her the Group 1 Auckland Diamond Stakes last season and she has now put together back to back wins on the Ellerslie track.

Trainer John Sargent was very impressed with the filly's performance.

"She ran a great race, it was great to see her put in such a dominant performance.

"It's nice to see her back in the winner's circle, sometimes these fillies can take a while to come up and you don't see them at their best until later in the summer.

"She has pulled up well which is good. We were unsure if she would get further than a mile but judging by her performance, she looks like she will be able to get over a bit more ground. She will continue to improve as the season continues so we will be sitting down over the next few days and deciding where she will go next."

Running into second place was the brave Icepin (Pins x Ice Maiden) who once again put in a strong performance. Trained by Jason Bridgman, Icepin is racing well this season running second to Jimmy Choux at his last start in the Group 2 Great Northern Guineas, and in the Group 2 Hawke's Bay Guineas earlier in the season.

Third went to the Mark Wallace trained Australian Raider Miss Confidential (Stratum x Exquisitely) who has also been racing well, winning three of her four starts in Australia before making the journey to Ellerslie.

Bred and sold by Hallmark Stud, Banchee was bought by Bruce Perry Bloodstock at the 2009 Karaka Premier Sale for $375,000. Last night saw the three-year-old notch up her fifth win from 13 starts and take her stakes earnings to over $419,000.

The blue-blood filly holds a nomination for the NZ Oaks and NZ Derby in March. She also has a close relation in the Karaka Premier Sale, Lot 438, the half-sister by Darci Brahma to Banchee's Dam Miss Jessie Jay, and the Group 1 winning mare Gee I Jane. The filly will be offered by last night's winning vendor Hallmark Stud.

The National Yearling Sales Series kicks off today with the Premier Sale starting at 11am. The Premier Sale will be broadcasted live on Sky Sport Three from 10.30am. For more information please contact New Zealand Bloodstock or visit www.nzb.co.nz.