Consistent mare Rose of Virginia (NZ) (Thorn Park) deservedly won the $100,000 Windsor Park Stud Karaka Stayers Cup at the Karaka Million Twilight Meeting last night.
The six-year-old capped off consistent form, including a last-start second in the Group 3 City of Auckland Cup, to win the race sponsored by where she was bred.
Starting from the widest barrier, Rose of Virginia and jockey Cameron Lammas were trapped wide early, until Lammas went forward and obtained a trail behind leader Seventeen Seventy (NZ) (Captain Rio). Turning for home, Rose of Virginia came off the trail to challenge the leader with the Thorn Park mare getting the upper hand over the final 100 metres to claim victory. Seventeen Seventy finished second half-a-length behind and Decorah (NZ) (Pins) ran on late to finish third.
“She’s taken a while to mature but she’s a tough, honest mare,” Noble said. “She always shows good form after Christmas. I trained her mother who won five races and it’s a good group of owners and breeders in the mare.
“It’s a great thrill to win on the Karaka Million Twilight meeting.”
The Windsor Park Stud Karaka Stayers Cup was the Thorn Park mare’s sixth win from 31 starts with total earnings of $173,945 for owners Mrs D & S Barrett, J Burnet, R Burnet, Dr A & Mrs C Jackson, Mrs B & L Pettifer
Rose of Virginia was purchased at the 2011 Karaka Select Sale by Lance & Leigh Noble for $20,000 from Windsor Park Stud.
Bred by her part-owners J Burnet, R Burnet, A & Mrs C & T Jackson, Rose of Virginia is out of five-race winner Centapin (Pins). She is a full-sister to the multiple stakes performer Touche (Thorn Park) who finished third in the Karaka Million of 2013.
The Windsor Park Karaka Stayers Cup is open to all yearlings sold or passed at the National Yearling Sale Series until 2018. From 2018 horses will need to be nominated for the Karaka Million Series to enter the Karaka Stayers Cup.
