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Bespoke Takes the Lead in the Karaka Million
Saturday's Listed $45,000 Berkley Stud Welcome Stakes saw Karaka Graduates trifecta the race and Bespoke emerge as the
newest leader on the Karaka Million Order of Entry.
The standard of two-year-old racing has been very strong this season and the Welcome Stakes was no exception with
another thrilling finish. Coming into the straight, leader Venetian Raider (Rusty Spur x Rare Bits) put three lengths on
the field and was looking strong at the 150 metre mark. Nevertheless, jockey Opie Bosson was patient on Bespoke (Pins x
Velvet and Satin), and as the leader started to tire, he pounced on the Jason Bridgman trained mount, running down
Venetian Raider to win by a head.
The Aftershock (Nadeem x Queens Move) was brave finishing less than a length from the winner and capped off a successful
race for Karaka graduates which were the first three home.
The win was Bespoke's second from three starts and took his stakes earnings to over $33,000. He now heads the Karaka
Million Order of Entry, just ahead of rival Pins colt Antonio Lombardo (ex Petit Verdot), who won the Listed $45,000
Wellesley Stakes at his last start. The Australian runner Isle be Ready (Perfectly Ready x Jesmonds Gift) remains in
third place with A$21,800 in stakes.
Bespoke was purchased by Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis at the Karaka Premier Sale earlier this year for $460,000
from his breeder Pencarrow Stud. In early September Velvet and Satin foaled a full brother to Bespoke who will be
offered at Karaka as a yearling in 2012.
The next two-year-old race, the Listed Murdoch Newell Stakes, is scheduled for Saturday 20 November at Pukekohe Park.
The New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Three-Year-Old Mile Order of Entry has remained largely unchanged over the weekend.
NZB 1000 Guineas runner up Twilight Savings (Secret Savings x Ghemashah) remains in the lead on the Order of Entry with
a domestic rating of 85. Banchee (Oratorio x Miss Jessie Jay) is in second place with a rating of 80 with Icepin (Pins x
Ice Maiden) and Encosta Diablo (Encosta de Lago x Devil's Lair) tied for fourth on a rating of 78.
The Karaka Million meeting will be held at Ellerslie Racecourse on January 30, to view the Karaka Million and Karaka
Three-Year-Old Mile Order of Entry, click here.
The Ready to Run Sale of Two-Year-Olds will commence at 9am tomorrow with 38 horses eligible for the 2011 Karaka
Million. For information on the up and coming sale, visit www.nzb.co.nz.
ENDS