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Although their focus may have been centered around the Otaki racemeeting on Saturday where they sponsored the Group One feature, powerful Karaka based breeding operation Haunui Farm enjoyed a successful day in the ownership ranks.
Progressive intermediate galloper Triaction grabbed the first victory when she bravely held out a small but select field of rating 75 opposition in the fifth race on the day before Perfect Fit scored in her open company debut just two races later. Coincidentally both carried the number seven saddlecloth in their respective events.
Perfect Fit is a daughter by Elusive City of outstanding racemare Fayreform who numbered a treble of Group One wins amongst her eight career victories while Triaction is also by Elusive City from Octagonal mare Free Form, who is a daughter of Fayreform.Co-trainer Dawn Williams had been cautiously optimistic about the chances of Triaction before her contest as she had put together a string of good performances that included a victory over well fancied race rival Seventh Up earlier in the season. That form held up well as the four-year-old mare showed plenty of tenacity to surge to victory after taking control late in the piece of the 1400 metre event.
“I thought it was quite a decisive win in the end as the pacemaker got away from her and she chased her down nicely at the finish,” she said.“They can be pretty hard to catch when they get a break on you like that so it was a good win.
“I think this mare has the potential to go to open company as she is that type of horse. She relaxes well and that will be to her advantage in the future.”The day ended on an even higher note for Haunui when classy performer Turn Me Loose took out his second Australian Group One scalp with victory in the Futurity Stakes at Caulfield. The four-year-old entire is by Haunui Farm stallion Iffraaj who is forging an enviable record at stud that includes being named New Zealand Champion Sire of three-year-olds for the 2014/2015 season.