Cambridge Stud received the perfect late Christmas present at Ellerslie on Boxing Day, with their young shuttle sire Hello Youmzain siring his first Kiwi winner in the new $1 million Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) equal-favourite Remala.
Remala was purchased by stud principals Brendan and Jo Lindsay at the 2024 Karaka Yearling Sales for $180,000 and had made a tidy impression at the trials, winning on two occasions prior to her debut in a competitive Horizon By SkyCity 1100.
Te Akau Racing juvenile Belle Du Monde was backed strongly ($2.10) at her second start after finishing runner-up to impressive colt Storm Front back in October, with Remala the third-fancy at $6.20.
Jumping from an outside draw, Remala was forced four-wide early and jockey Warren Kennedy eased back to find cover, settling in the second half of the field. The big-striding Belle Du Monde went up to lead and controlled a solid tempo for Australian hoop Blake Shinn throughout, holding her position into the straight until Remala began to look very dangerous at the 300m.
Belle Du Monde kept fighting hard, but a green Remala showed a stunning turn-of-foot late to power over the top and score by 1 – ½ lengths, a performance Kennedy may not have entirely expected.
“We were pretty realistic about it, it was a tough field with a lot of horses that have had runs, and close-up runs so they were improving,” he said.
“She was always going to be very green, she won her two trials, but trials are trials so she lacked that race-day experience.
“When she found clear air, she quickened up really well and had a good look around. She shied quite dramatically into Blake’s horse (Belle Du Monde), but she had all the momentum going forward and was always going to win.
“We haven’t had one to put their hand up, so for her to put her hand up in this fashion, winning in a tough field with a good amount of improvement to come, as well as the bonus of winning at Ellerslie, all roads look forward to Karaka Millions.”
The Cambridge Stud contingent are prepared at Karaka by Lance Noble, who shared Kennedy’s admiration of the inexperienced filly.
“I’m just thrilled, she’d won her trials nicely but she hasn’t shown a lot at home, but she was just giving that feeling that she may do something like that,” Noble said.
“We would’ve been happy if she’d learned something, but the way she did that so professionally and how she got off them and hit the line so strong, it’s very, very exciting.
“She had galloped well here on Thursday, but she just looks like a pretty natural racehorse to me with a good brain, which makes it so much easier.
“You couldn’t wish for a better education, Warren rode her a treat. She relaxed, she hit the line and she had something to chase, it’s fantastic.
“She’s one the stud bought from the sales and she is Karaka eligible, so it’ll be hard to tell Brendan no.”
Bred by Tim Harrison, Remala is the fourth foal out of his talented race-mare Alamer, a daughter of Alamosa who won the Listed Trevor Eagle Memorial (1500m) as a three-year-old. Looking ahead to the Karaka Millions, Remala is now a $5 favourite alongside La Dorada, while Hollie Wynyard’s Sierra Leone also gained plenty of admirers with her third-placed run on Thursday, pushing her up to $8 in the TAB Futures market.
