by Patrick Reed

Katie Lee closed with a powerful five-wide rally to overtake pacesetter Military Move and capture the $724,500 New Zealand Two Thousand Guineas (NZ-G1) by a length on Saturday at Riccarton Park.

Ridden by Opie Bosson, the three-year-old Pins filly covered 1,600 meters (7.95 furlongs) in 1:34.91 on turf rated as good and earned her first win at the top level.

Katie Lee settled near the back of the 15-horse field as Military Move controlled the pace through the backstretch. Military Move opened a clear lead under Mark Du Plessis as the field entered the stretch and momentarily appeared to be on his way to a front-running victory.

Bosson maneuvered Katie Lee to the outside, however, and the filly found another gear, devouring ground in the final sixteenth to post a breakthrough victory.

Group 2-placed Military Move gamely held second by a neck over Clapton.

Trained by Graeme and Debbie Roberson, Katie Lee won the Stella Artois Eclipse Stakes (NZ-G3) on January 1 for her first stakes victory. She entered the Two Thousand Guineas off of a two-length score in the James and Annie Sarten Memorial Stakes at Te Rapa on October 26.

Katie Lee improved her career record to four wins in nine starts and earnings of $517,510. Bred in Australia by Hallmark Stud, Katie Lee is out of the Group 3-winning Spectacularphantom mare Miss Jessie Jay, a half sister to New Zealand multiple champion Gee I Jane

Patrick Reed is a Thoroughbred Times contributing writer