Karaka Purchase Wins for Family

Media Release - Friday January 5

A classy front-running ride from Tegan Newman provided Steven Cole with a special victory at Ruakaka on Friday with Per La Vita.

Based out of Byerley Park, Cole has a team of around 25 gallopers in training, of which many are shared in ownership with his father, David Cole.

Per La Vita winning at Ruakaka on Friday.  Photo: Therese Davis (Race Images)

However, when Cole purchased Per La Vita at the 2022 National Yearling Sales, his mother elected to take a share in the filly and was duly rewarded when she broke through for her maiden victory in The Whangapiro Valley Free Range Egg Cup (1400m).

Having an awkward barrier draw (10) to contend with, Per La Vita was among the best at the jump and jockey Tegan Newman utilised the back straight to work into the pace-making position. After settling kindly in front, the filly broke away from the field turning for home and staved off the challenge of Sawbay and Lucky Bay to score by a neck.

Cole indicated the race had not panned out as anticipated, however, he was thrilled to see the daughter of Per Incanto salute the judge when starting a $24.80 chance, after two midfield finishes this time in.

“It was a really good run and a gutsy effort. It probably wasn’t our initial intention to jump and lead, but with the way she jumped, Tegan used a bit of initiative and rode her positively,” he said.

Advertisement

“We’ll just see how she comes through this, but there’s plenty of three-year-old racing coming up so we may look to find her something at the new Ellerslie track. It would be pretty cool if she could win a race there.”

Cole had secured Per La Vita for $90,000 out of Book 1 when presented by Wentwood Grange, and soon had involved his mother and a close friend into the ownership.

“I bought her at the sales and my mum ended up taking a share in her, as well as Cherie Hope, a lady that we’ve been family friends with for a long time,” he said.

“It was really cool to be able to get this for them, as my dad is usually the one down on the ownership paper.

“She was just a nice type and by a good stallion in Per Incanto. She’s got a bit of breeding there, so if we could get a bit of black-type with her, we thought she could be quite valuable.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Visit the profile page for Per Incanto

Per Incanto in upcoming sales:
Advertisment
More Reading...
Juvenile Trial Watch – Rosehill
The Rosehill trials on Friday morning featured a couple of juvenile heats and both winners came out of the Widden Stud draft at Magic Millions with one topping the sale at $2.8million and the other selling for a modest $150,000.
Good News Week for Geisel Park
Geisel Park’s black-type mare Laced Up Heels is in foal off a maiden cover to Champion Australian Sire Zoustar and an orphan foal has found a new mum.
NZB Breeze Up Footage Now Available to View Online
The highly anticipated Breeze Up videos for NZB’s 2025 Ready to Run Sale are now available to view online at nzb.co.nz.
Winning Return for Blueblood I Am Invincible Filly
Last seen finishing an unlucky fourth in the $1million Magic Millions National 2YO Classic in May, speedy I Am Invincible filly Sisstainable returned from a spell at Moonee Valley on Friday night to score a tenacious win.
Breeding To Win – 2025 G1 MVRC Cox Plate
An emotional week in Australasian racing approaches its crescendo as we count down to the final Cox Plate before a radical new era in its history begins and we mourn the passing of one of its greatest champions.
Second Wootton Bassett Son Added to Coolmore Stallion Roster for 2026
Set to join Camille Pissarro as the second G1 winning son of Wootton Bassett on the stallion roster for Ireland in 2026 is Henri Matisse, who this time last year was about to claim his first G1 victory at the Breeders Cup meeting at Del Mar.
A Century of NZB National Yearling Sales Success: Cox Plate
Moonee Valley’s A$6m Group One WS Cox Plate (2040m) is known as the weight-for-age championship of Australasia and has been won by many of Australia and New Zealand’s greatest thoroughbreds.
Sires With Winners - Thursday October 23
Here is the full list of 26 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Coolmore Favs get the Flemington Straight Experience in Jump Outs
Beiwacht, Beadman and Skyhook, three of the top four in the market for next month’s Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes had a jump out down the Flemington straight on Friday with Beadman quite the eye-catcher.
Magic Millions First Digital Sale - Opportunities Aplenty
Bidding is now open for the first Magic Millions Digital Sale with opportunities across all levels of the market for prospective buyers.