Karman Line (NZ) (Myboycharlie) has proven to be an enigma for Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott throughout her career, but the Group Three winner was right back to her best when taking out the BCD Group 1400 at Te Rapa on Sunday.
The daughter of Myboycharlie has mixed her form from the outset and while she won the Lisa Chittick Plate (1400m) and Gr.3 Rotorua Stakes (1400m) last term, she missed the top five in her opening four appearances this season, albeit in strong company.
A fourth placing behind Chattahoochee and stablemate Little Bit Of Love last time out indicated she was on the up, but punters were still wary of the mare and she closed at $10.80 on Sunday, with Witz End on top at $3.20.
In the hands of Masa Hashizume, Karman Line jumped positively and found her position off the rail in fourth, while Mr Mojo Risin’ sped up to lead the seven-horse affair. Witz End ranged up to the pacemaker on the home turn, but Karman Line was cruising under Hashizume and hit the lead at the 100m, fending off a strong challenge from Cannon Hill to score by a head.
Mr Mojo Risin’ held on well to finish third narrowly ahead of Lingjun Xiongfeng.
O’Sullivan was on course for the victory and commended the efforts of Hashizume, who has guided the mare to two previous successes.
“It was a very good ride by Masa, he gave her every possible (chance) and nursed her right up for as long as he could,” he said. “It was good to see her back winning again.
“She’s tricky, we don’t really know (why) and she mixes her form a little bit. We’ve tried different things with her around the stable and tried mixing it up with her, but she does seem to come right at this time of the year.
“We’ll be heading to Rotorua for the race she won last year, that’ll be her target once again. She certainly is hard to catch, but on her day, she has the ability.”
This year’s Gr.3 Rotorua ITM Stakes (1400m) will be held at Arawa Park on the 10th of May.
Karman Line was bred by Little Avondale Stud and presented at the 2020 National Yearling Sales by Cambria Park, where she purchased by Wexford Stables for $67,500. She was the first foal out of a Pierro mare World Away, who went on to produce two-race winners Alexandra Quick and Tristar, the latter also in the care of O’Sullivan and Scott.
In 24 starts, she has won four races and collected $246,750 in stakes earnings.