Highly talented racemare Naantali (Rip Van Winkle) confirmed her excellent recent race form in Group company when securing an important black type success in the Listed MRC Anniversary Vase in Melbourne on Saturday.

Trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, 4YO Naantali became the 25^th stakes winner for her successful sire Rip Van Winkle, whose 8 stakes performers this season also include Gr.2 winner Te Akau Shark, Gr.3 Hawkesbury Gold Cup winner Kingsguard and Gr.3 New Zealand Cup winner Bizzwinkle.

Naantali has been a consistent black-type performer this campaign, having previously finished second in the Gr. 3 MRC Mannerism Stakes (1400m), second in the Gr. 3 VRC Matron Stakes (1600m) and a close last-start fourth in the Gr. 2 MVRC Sunline Stakes (1600m).

With a slight gear adjustment on Saturday Naantali settled better in the running and showed her class when bursting to the lead in the straight with a spectacular turn of foot before racing clear to score by a length and three-quarters.

Naantali has won 6 races and A$456,400 in prizemoney and was purchased by Ciaron Maher Racing for $180,000 at the 2016 NZ Bloodstock Premier Yearling sale from draft of Windsor Park Stud.