New Stakes-Winner for Iffraaj

Media Release - Saturday March 4

Exciting galloper Sakura Girl presented her trainer Ben Foote and rider Kozzi Asano with the second leg of a winning stakes double at Te Rapa on Saturday when she cruised to victory in the Gr.3 McKee Family Sunline Vase (2100m).

Sakura Girl streaks clear to win the Gr.3 McKee Family Sunline Vase (2100m) Photo: Trish Dunell

The three-year-old daughter of Iffraaj couldn’t have been more impressive as she went straight to the front and never gave her age-group rivals a look in throughout the Group Three contest.

Asano had her in a beautiful rhythm in front and approaching the 600m had her humming along as she began to test the staying qualities of the field.

Three lengths clear at the 300m, Sakura Girl had plenty of petrol left in the tank as she held out runner-up Sedaka, who chased gamely and Marvelouz, who made up good ground late for third.

Foote had earlier seen his stable star Babylon Berlin streak home by seven lengths in the Gr.3 Haunui Farm Kings Plate (1200m) and had no additional worries with the performance of his younger stayer.

“It’s never that easy, but she is just a beautiful filly,” Foote said.

“We thought she had improved of late and we were pretty confident going into the race.

“She has an outstanding attitude and although it would have been good with some cover, we wanted to be positive and take bad luck out of the equation.”

Advertisement

Sakura Girl holds a nomination for the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) later this month with Foote keen to see his charge take on the big, roomy expanses of Trentham.

“I think she will lap up the 2400m at Trentham,” he said.

“I think she is in the top echelon so we are really looking forward to the Oaks, although this has been a very special day.”

Bred by the Moore family from their O’Reilly mare Soltina, Sakura Girl comes from an extended family of Group One winners including Captivate, Culminate and Eileen Dubh.

She was purchased for $280,000 during the 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale by Foote’s long-term clients Ross and Andy Lau along with Tristan Hui of Upper Bloodstock.

TAB Bookmakers reacted quickly by installing Sakura Girl as the $5 favourite on the Fixed Odds market for the New Zealand Oaks on March 18, ahead of Family Ties at $8. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Thursday August 28
Here is the full list of 33 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
G1 Plan for Kiwi Sprinter Niance
Six-year-old mare Niance will kick off a new campaign when she lines up in the Gr.1 Moir Stakes (1000m) at The Valley on Saturday week.
Damask Rose Looking to Kickstart Te Akau Melbourne Spring
Te Akau Racing are building a strong record in the Gr.3 Cockram Stakes (1200m), and they will look to continue that at Caulfield on Saturday when Damask Rose takes her place in this year’s edition.
Ready to Run Purchase on Track for NZ Oaks
Sakura Girl will chase the first leg of a major trans-Tasman double for Cambridge trainer Ben Foote at Trentham on Saturday.
One to Watch – Gosford
He’s big and beautiful and it looks like the patient approach might be about to pay off for this talented I Am Invincible four year-old who won on debut at Gosford on Friday.
Breeding to Win - 2025 G1 Memsie Stakes
The big guns step out and spring is on in earnest when the Memsie (1400m WFA) rolls around and what a cracking field we have in 2025 for the first G1 of the Southern spring with 11 runners and 10 are G1 winners!
Sires With Winners - Friday August 29
Here is the full list of 38 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Ruling Court Dies of Laminitis
Hugely talented Justify colt Ruling Court has been a headline horse since May last year when Godolphin paid €2.3million for him at the Arqana Breeze Up Sale and he is back in the headlines overnight with the tragic news of his euthanasia due to laminitis.
Via Sistina Honoured at NSW Horse of the Year
One of the greatest seasons of all time has secured Via Sistina the TAB NSW Champion Horse of the Year award. The Chris Waller-trained mare was recognised at Racing’s Night of Champions for her outstanding performance in 2024/2025 which included equalling Winx’s record of seven Group 1s in a single season.
Vale, Naturale
On our recent trip to Victoria for the stallion parades we had the pleasure of staying at Gilgai Farm where we met the lovely Naturale, the unraced sister to Black Caviar, who had a difficult life and achieved fame and fortune as the dam of champion sire Ole Kirk.