Carabella confirmed a trip to Auckland for the $100,000 Yearling Sales Pace for horses bred to northern hemisphere time when the 2yr-old filly won first up at Oamaru yesterday.
"We will take her to Auckland for the prelude of the northern hemisphere race on June 11 and the $100,000 final a week later," Brendon Hill, her Kaiapoi trainer, said.
The filly is raced by the Cavalla Bloodstock Ltd, of Robert Famularo. He bred Carabella.
"We turned down $42,500 for her at the premier yearling sale, we thought that much of her," Sarah Famularo said.
Carabella, foaled on January 1, is by Bettor's Delight and the fourth foal of Andress Blue Chip, an Artsplace mare imported by Famularo from the United States.
Andress Blue Chip has also left Lady Cullen, who won in 1.55.9 at Cambridge before she was retired through a tendon injury.
Carabella ran the 2000m (mobile) in a useful 2.29.5, the last 800m in 57.8.
Ricky May settled her seventh from the outside of the front row.
She improved to second at the 600m and wound up late to win by half a length.
Carabella may be accompanied north by Hudson Hornet, who won his first start for the stable and his first race for five months.
The 3yr-old was bought by Famularo and Hill after two starts for Wayne Ross.
The Hill stable has Harley Earl in the 4yr-old section of the Harness Jewels.
Power Of Tara, a free-for-all winner for the stable at Addington on Friday night, will now spell, along with Baileys Dream and Tennis Ball.
The stable star Monkey King is also spelling.
• Never Been Easy wound up a winner yesterday after finishing third.
He was promoted to second after the relegation of second the horse D'Amore's First under the lapped-on rule.
An inquiry was then held into the first placing of Epoch, who was relegated to fifth on the grounds of interference to Towney (fifth) in the run home.
The elation was short lived for Murray Lawrence, the owner-trainer of Epoch, who was having his 53rd start.
The previous time Lawrence had a horse first past the post was 12 years ago when Ima Knight was disqualified after returning a positive swab at Forbury Park.
Lawrence was found not to blame after following the advice of a veterinarian.
Matthew Williamson, the driver of Epoch, admitted causing interference to Towney.
He was fined $200.
• Another Player, the 3yr-old trotting filly, won first up yesterday.
She is trained by her West Melton breeder Gavin Mills, who shares the ownership with Matt Bowden.
"I passed her in for $11,500 at the yearling sales when the reserve was $12,000," Mills said.
She is a half-sister by Dr Ronerail to Play On, winner of the 2005 Interdominion Trotting Final in Auckland.
"I was breaking in Play On when she knocked over my wife [Helen], who was laid up for four months. I offered Play On to Peter Lamb [Darfield owner-trainer] after that."
Mills has been breeding and racing members of the family for 43 years.
He had his first win as an owner with Dulmee (Supersonic-Alliance), trained by the late Pat O'Reilly at Greymouth in October, 1967.
Dulmee left Armbro Brent, winner of the 1974 Methven Cup and Rangiora Winter Cup when trained by Mac Miller at Methven.
Dulmee also left Gasthof, winner of eight races when trained by Mills.
Dulmee is the fifth dam of Another Player.
Tehoro Diva was scratched at Oamaru yesterday after sustaining colic on Friday.
She has undergone surgery at a Christchurch veterinary clinic.
Tehoro Diva has won at Waikouaiti and Rangiora this year from the stable of Robbie Holmes.
• Auckland Reactor finished sixth of seven when having his first race in the United States yesterday, NZPA reports.
The $US32,000 invitational pace at The Meadowlands in New Jersey was won by Real Joke, who ran the mile in 1.47.3.
"That's a ridiculously fast mile, especially since he hasn't raced in five months or so," Brian Sears, his driver, said.
