Irish Cream runs into Karaka Million contention at Ruakaka

Te Akau Stud
Irish Cream emulated its stablemate Melody Belle (pictured here) on debut by beating its rivals by seven lengths at Ruakaka on Wednesday. Photo: NZ Racing Desk

TE AKAU have unearthed another potential Karaka Million winner to follow in the footsteps of Melody Belle.

It was only a year ago when Melody Belle made its debut before winning the Karaka Million, Manawatu Sires’ Produce and the Sires’ Produce at Eagle Farm in an award-winning two-year-old season, but Wednesday belonged to its stablemate Irish Cream.

The Autridge/Richards-trained filly by O’Reilly was backed late into $2.90 with Unibet.com.au and that money was spot on as it stretched away to win by seven lengths in the Tavistock Owners Maiden at Ruakaka.

On track for the 2018 Karaka Million, the $210,000 purchase from Cambridge Stud was highly touted by principal owner David Ellis after its trial win at Te Teko last month.

“She is a beautiful filly that just oozes class,” Ellis said. “Her mother was good enough to win in Australia, the first foal was placed at two, and her grand-dam, Dantelah, won two stakes races as a two-year-old and went on to win nearly one-million in prize money.”

That confidence was confirmed on track when it showed good barrier speed to lead before kicking away for an effortless victory. Co-trainer Jamie Richards described the filly as “professional”.

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“She’s a beautiful filly,” Richards said. “David paid a bit of money for her off Sir Patrick (Hogan) at Cambridge Stud at Karaka and she’s really impressed us all the way through.

“Dan Miller, our good young man, broke her in and he loved her and she’s come into the stable and done everything 100 percent.

“We couldn’t be happier with how she’s going.”

The team decided to run Irish Cream at Ruakaka as a learning experience and it also gives them time to weigh up their options before the grand final at Ellerslie on January 27.

“It was a decision whether you wait for Te Aroha in a couple of weeks or you roll the dice and back up in eight days,” Richards explained. “She came up yesterday, she’s had a trip away, a night away from home and she looks really professional.

“If you can get them out nice and early it gives you a chance to give them a freshen up at some stage so there’s no rushing with her now.

“We can pick and choose where we go from here.”

Winning jockey Cameron Lammas agreed with Richards’ thoughts and believes the two-year-old will take plenty of improvement from the debut effort.

“She’s professional, but still has a bit to learn,” Lammas said. “She’s jumped and ran and just kept going.

“It’s always a nice trip down here so we should improve.”

Hasabro finished in second place for Stephen McKee and picked up valuable price money in the process.

The full brother to 2017 Karaka Million placegetter Hasahalo has plenty to live up to, but it will improve with the outing and the extra distance later on this campaign.

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