Bold chestnut Karisto made his own luck at Te Rapa on Saturday to score an emphatic win at the expense of his fellow three-year-olds.

The son of Written Tycoon jumped to the front and he powered clear in the straight in the hands of Cameron Lammas to claim the Maara Grange Rehabilitation and Fencing 1600m by four and three-quarter lengths.

Turned out after finishing fourth in the Gr.3 Wellington Guineas (1600m) in December, Karisto was denied clear room in the straight when seventh on his return at Te Rapa a fortnight ago.

“He didn’t have any luck and it was a good effort today to step up to the mile,” said Bruce Perry, racing manager for part-owner Lib Petagna. “Gelding him and giving him a break has really made him.”

Perry went to $220,000 to secure Karisto out of Lyndhurst Farm’s Ready to Run Sale draft at Karaka in 2016.

“The China Horse Club had a share in him and he was passed in originally and I got him later and they wanted to stay in the horse so it’s working out well,” he said.

Future plans for the Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained Karisto have yet to be decided.
“We’ll play it by ear and see how he comes through this race,” Perry said.

“He’s taken a while to strengthen up and hopefully he keeps improving.”

Obsessive did well off the back of a maiden win to finish runner-up ahead of Executive Power and Lincoln Raider and the favourite Not Usual Talent. He ran on fairly after dropping to last from the outside gate.

Video replay: Karisto winning the Maara Grange Rehabilitation and Fencing 1600m