Karaka graduate Khemosabi ran the race of his career on Saturday to claim his first black-type success in the $65,000 Listed Waikato Stud Opunake Cup (1400m) in Taranaki.

Owned and trained by Paul Gordon, Khemosabi (Commands x Geordoba) was given a smart ride from jockey Johnathon Parkes who took the six-year-old straight to the front from barrier ten and set the pace.

Commencing their race winning move at the 600 metre mark, Parkes and Khemosabi slipped away from the field to lead by four lengths at the point of the turn and the pair extended that margin in the straight to win by a convincing five-and-a-quarter lengths.

Group 1 winning three-year-old Time Keeper (Stravinsky) ran on well for second to complete a quinella for Karaka graduates.

Defying his odds of $28 for the win, Khemosabi came into the race three starts back from a spell. The son of Commands won fresh up at Ellerslie in May over 1400 metres before running second to Crown of Thorns in mid-June over the same course and distance.

Only lightly raced, the six-year-old’s 21 career starts have brought five wins and seven placings for over $110,000 in stakes and the grey holds a nomination for the 115th running of the Group 3 Winter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton on 4 August.

Bred by Swettenham Stud, Khemosabi was offered by Monovale Farm at New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2007 Karaka Premier Sale.

Khemosabi is the 48th stakes winner for his sire Commands who stands at Darley Kelvinside. Commands has been Australia’s Champion Sire for race winners for the last two seasons – 2009/10 and 2010/11 – and heads the table this season with 136 winners, six clear of Redoute’s Choice on 130 with Fastnet Rock, Lonhro and Encosta de Lago also in the hunt on 129 winners.