Aroha Stone too strong in Randwick finale

Newcastle trainer Nathan Doyle saved his best for last with a win in the final race at Rosehill last weekend, and he repeated that trick seven days later at Randwick on Saturday with Aroha Stone (NZ) (El Roca) closing out the day in style in the A$160,000 TAB Handicap (1600m).

The New Zealand-bred daughter of El Roca brought up the fifth win of her 19-start career in the Benchmark 78 handicap and lifted her overall earnings to A$284,275.

Ridden by apprentice jockey Shannen Llewellyn in the last race on Saturday’s Randwick card, Aroha Stone settled at the back of the field before swooping around the outside to come widest of all into the home straight.

Swiftie Harriet (Exceedance) hit the lead at the 300m mark and kicked away by more than a length, but Aroha Stone was gathering momentum out wide on the track and gaining ground. The four-year-old drew up alongside Swiftie Harriet with 100m to run and outfinished that rival through the closing stages to win by a neck.

Aroha Stone was purchased for just $25,000 from the Westbury Stud draft from the Book 2 Sale at the 2023 NZB National Yearling Sales at Karaka.

She was bred by Westbury owner Gerry Harvey and is the second foal of the Makfi mare Luminescent (NZ), who in turn is out of the four-time stakes winner and Group One performer Illuminates.

Luminescent is also the dam of Ready To Shine (NZ) (Better Than Ready), who has been a five-time winner from 16 starts for Warwick Farm trainer Matthew Smith, including a last-start win at Rosehill on June 27.