$180,000 Premier Sale purchase Naantali (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle) picked up her first stakes win in Saturday's A$140,000 Listed Ladbrokes Anniversary Vase (1400m) at Caulfield, leading home a Karaka quinella with Manolo Blahniq(NZ) (Jimmy Choux) second.
The four-year-old had been a consistent black-type performer in this campaign, finishing second in the Group 3 Mannerism Stakes (1400m), second in the Group 3 Schweppervescence Trophy (1600m) and a close last-start fourth in the Group 2 Sunline Stakes (1600m).
On Saturday she showed her class, bursting to the lead in the straight with a spectacular turn of foot. Ridden by Nikita Beriman, she raced clear and scored by a length and three-quarters.
"She's ever so consistent, the writing was on the wall," Beriman said. "She travelled beautifully underneath me coming into the straight.
"She got a little bit lost when she hit the front, so I rolled over to the fence. It was a very good win and all credit to this mare."
Trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace for owners Greenwich Stud, Naantali has now had 18 starts for six wins, six placings and $456,400 – more than double what she cost at Karaka.
Naantali was bred by Mrs C A and C C Chamberlain, Mrs H M and M J Moran. She was offered by Windsor Park Stud at the 2016 Premier Sale.
Runner-up Manolo Blahniq was bought for $115,000 at the 2015 Select Sale. A stakes winner on both sides of the Tasman, he has had 27 starts for four wins, eight placings and A$416,534 – almost four times his purchase price.
| Vendor | Windsor Park Stud |
| Purchaser | Ciaron Maher Racing (Victoria) |
| Breeding | Rip Van Winkle – Zaloot |
| Sale | Lot 142, 2016 Premier Sale, $180,000 |
| Bred by | Mrs C A & C C Chamberlain, Mrs H M & M J Moran |
