Wandjina Mare Wandabaa Triumphs in Newcastle Newmarket

Mark Smith - Friday March 4

For the fourth year in a row, Australian Bloodstock and Kris Lees combined to capture the Group III Horsepower Newcastle Newmarket (1400m) when Wandabaa found conditions to suit for a richly deserved maiden stakes success.

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Ridden by Jason Collett, the 5yo daughter of Wandjina came from well back in the field to defeat the 5yo So You Think mare Nimalee by a neck with the 7yo Wanted gelding Through The Cracks a further three-quarter of a length back in third.

Runner-up to the top-class Lost And Running in the $1million The Hunter in November, and six times stakes-placed before breaking through, Wandabaa advances her record to eight wins, eight seconds, and five third from 37 starts with earnings of $828,965.

“She profiled well on this type of ground,” Lees said.

“I knew in the run she would be hard to hold out. She got the nice tempo up front and had plenty of racing room. Jason rides these styles of horses very well. He got her in clear air, and she was strong late.

“She put a string of wins together early in her career and paid the penalty, racing at higher levels and multiple stakes-placed.

“It’s really good to win a stakes race, and she is a valuable mare that comes from a good family.  

“To win stakes races on your home track is important.”

Australian Bloodstock shelled out just $36,000 to secure the Bob Hannon-bred mare from the Ascot Park draft at the 2018 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.

A half-sister to the Group II Caulfield Sprint runner-up Malkovich (Choisir), Wandabaa is the best of five winners from six to race out of the winning Anabaa (USA) mare Mabkhara.

Wandabaa a $36,000 Inglis Classic yearling

A reliable breeder, Mabkhara had ten foals in succession. Unsurprisingly, Australian Bloodstock/Kris Lees Racing/Yes Bloodstock went to $575,000 for Mabkhara’s yearling filly by Deep Field at the Magic Millions in January.

After foaling a Capitalist filly last spring, Mabkhara was covered by Cosmic Force.

After beginning his career at Newgate Farm, Snitzel’s Group 1 VRC Australian Guineas winner Wandjina now stands at a fee of $8,800.

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Race Result - Horsepower Newcastle Newmarket Gr3 1400m

Newcastle Track: Heavy(8) Time: 1:24.20
1
Wandabaa
- 5m Wandjina (AUS) x Mabkhara (AUS) (Anabaa (USA))
Tnr: K A Lees Rdr: J R Collett 54
2
0.3
Nimalee
- 5m So You Think (NZ) x Dezign (AUS) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: Matthew Smith Rdr: B Avdulla 57
So You Think
3
1.1
Through The Cracks
- 7g Wanted (AUS) x More Than Acracker (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: Angela Davies Rdr: Tom Sherry 54
4
2.7
Aramayo
- 6g Poet's Voice (GB) x Peruvian (GB) (Diktat (GB))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J Bowman 56.5
5
3.6
Dajraan
- 4h Frankel (GB) x Mossfun (AUS) (Mossman (AUS))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Tim Clark 54
6
6.3
Chat
- 5g Deep Field (AUS) x Only Words (AUS) (End Sweep (USA))
Tnr: John Thompson Rdr: Brock Ryan 56
7
6.4
Riodini
- 5g Proisir (AUS) x Giardini (NZ) (Perfectly Ready (AUS))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Rachel King 57
8
7.7
Morrissy
- 6h Snitzel (AUS) x Extension Of Time (AUS) (Dash For Cash (AUS))
Tnr: L & T Corstens Rdr: K Mc Evoy 54
9
7.8
Ashman
- 6g Magnus (AUS) x Ashamika (FR) (Linamix (FR))
Tnr: Ms K Waugh Rdr: J Penza 54
10
8.3
Black Duke
- 4g Fiorente (IRE) x Empress Eleven (AUS) (War Pass (USA))
Tnr: Richard Litt Rdr: R Dolan 54
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