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Graduates of the Karaka sales finished first and second in the opening black type race of the 2018-19 New Zealand racing season in the G3 Winter Cup at Riccarton Park.

The $40,000 Festival Sale purchase Platinum Command (Red Giant x Wednesday Rocks by Encosta De Lago) swept to victory, lifting her career earnings past $300,000 with a one-length defeat of the $40,000 Ready to Run Sale graduate She’s Poppy (Alamosa).

On the eve of her retirement to stud, it was her first black-type win.

“We bought her with Neville McAlister and Lincoln Farms, who raced her together for most of her career,” trainer Lisa Latta said.

“Neville wants to breed from her so she’s had a bit of a change of ownership recently with Ashburn Lane joining Neville.

Platinum Command has now had 57 starts for 10 wins, 14 placings and $304,442 in prize-money – seven and a half times her purchase price.

Runner-up She’s Poppy has had seven wins, one at stakes level, in her 27-start career with earnings of $167,720 – four times her purchase price.

Platinum Command is the eighth stakes winner for her sire Red Giant (Giant’s Causeway).

Red Giant retired to stud in Kentucky in 2009, but now stands in Turkey. He shuttled to Westbury Stud in New Zealand, covering a three-figure book in 2010.

Platinum Command’s dam Wednesday Rocks is also the dam of winning pair Lucky Happy (Testa Rossa) and Platinum Rapper (Makfi).

Second dam Palatial (Danehill) is a sister to G1 Blue Diamond Stakes winner Danelagh who in turn produced G1-winning duo Vengeance Of Rain (Zebeel) and Dizelle (Zabeel).

Dizelle is the dam of G1 winner Pinot (Pierro) and Listed winner Dizlago (Encosta De Lago).

Danelagh is also the dam of Listed winner Bernicia (Elusive Quality), the dam of G2 winner Old North (Lonhro).

National Yearling Sales Series graduate Atenartin (Showcasing) proved too good for his age group when he led all the way to take out the Listed Ryder Stakes at Awapuni.

Bred and consigned by Rich Hill Stud, Atenartin was a bargain $7000 purchase for Matthew Eales during the Festival session of the 2017 National Yearling Sale Series at Karaka.

The talented gelding never looked like stopping as he charged away to defeat fellow Karaka graduate Mexican Tycoon (O’Reilly) who was bidding to give the Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman stable their 21st stakes winner for the New Zealand season.

New York Minute (Iffraaj x Zenno Queen) bolstered her resume with a second black-type feature in a commanding front-running performance in Saturday’s the Listed Opunake Cup at New Plymouth.

Purchased out of Little Avondale Stud’s 2013 National Weanling, Broodmare & Mixed Bloodstock Sale draft for $15,000, this was her eighth from 24 career starts and second at black-type following her last-start win in the Listed Tauranga Classic.

Trained by Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman for the Kelly family, New York Minute has now earned $211,535 in prizemoney.