Stud graduates gallant in karaka million

7 February 2017

WS graduates produced sterling efforts to finish in the money of the Karaka Million at Ellerslie. Hasahalo roared home from the back to claim the runner-up berth while Felton Road ran on bravely for third money.

“All going well, we’ll be back here for the Diamond Stakes,” Hasahalo’s trainer Stephen McKee said. “She really rattled home, but to be fair the winner (Melody Belle) was too good. We got a bit further back than we wanted when the pace went out of the race.”

A daughter of Savabeel and the Encosta de Lago mare Halloween, Hasahalo was a $110,000 Karaka purchase for Go Racing’s Albert Bosma. WS will offer a full-brother during tomorrow’s Premier Sale.

Felton Road is a son of Pins and the O’Reilly mare Rose Red and he sold for $20,000 12 months ago. “It was a good effort and full credit to the horse, he’s come a long way,” rider Leith Innes said.

The Corner with Garry Chittick

It would appear I now have to continue my weekly Corner with the amount of rumblings at the start of our new racing season. I have been around long enough to know we can never please all; my tenure as Chairman of the Racing Board was subjected to as much vitriol as subsequent Boards have had to bear, so what’s different this time, or is it different.

5 August 2026

First foal for Waikato’s Group 1 winner Skew Wiff

Group 1-winning Savabeel mare Skew Wiff (ex Starvoia), known affectionately as ‘Wiffy’, foaled a filly by Super Seth in the early hours of Wednesday, 5 August.