Per Incanto Mare Wins G3

Media Release - Saturday March 27

Cambridge conditioner Stephen Marsh enjoyed a successful day at Riccarton on Saturday when honest mare Belle Fascino provided him with the second leg of a race to race double in the feature event on the card, the Gr.3 Valachi Downs South Island Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m).

The Stephen Marsh-trained Belle Fascino clings on gamely to win the Gr.3 Valachi Downs South Island Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at Riccarton Photo Credit: Race Images South

The Marsh-trained Atishu had registered a phenomenal performance thirty minutes earlier when she overcame a rocky start to storm to victory over her age group rivals over 1400m, but it was the seven-year-old Belle Fascino who put the cherry on top for Marsh with a bold front-running performance.

Racing in the colours of new owners, Clyde and Pat Buckingham under their Emblem Ltd banner, who purchased the mare via bloodstock agent Robert Dawe prior to her last start victory, Belle Fascino set her rivals a merry chase throughout the 1600m journey.

Regular rider Sam Wynne had the Per Incanto mare pinging along sweetly and shot her three lengths clear with 800m to run.

Despite getting tired in the last 100m, Belle Fascino found enough in reserve to hold out the late run of All About Magic with stablemate Bronte Beach making up good ground for third.

“That was a really good win as she is tough and really tries hard every time she steps out,” Marsh said.

“It looked the right type of race for her although I got a bit worried as she seemed to grab the bit at the 1000m and wanted to charge along out in front.

“She’s tough though and is racing in such a great vein of form.

“I’m just delighted for her new owners and it is great to get two wins on the board for them, especially one at black type level.

Advertisement

“This will probably be her last campaign before she goes to the broodmare paddock, so we’ll be having a chat with them before we decide on what to do with her next.”

Marsh also admitted he had his hand over his eyes when watching the start of Atishu’s race, when the filly nearly threw rider Kozzi Asano when leaving the starting gates.

“It was a terrible start and I thought she was done for then,” he said.

“To pick herself up and then charge home to win was a super effort and that set her up for her next run which will be in the Airfreight Stakes (Listed, 1600m) at Riccarton in a fortnight.”

Marsh was disappointed with the effort of Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) placegetter Milford who dropped out in the run home to finish well back in the Gr.1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) when having his first run in Sydney.

After speaking with rider Tim Clark after the race he was advised the horse had travelled well but had problems rounding the final bend.

“He has had an issue, at times, going right-handed and Tim said he just wouldn’t corner at all,” Marsh said.

“We’ll have a chat to his owners now about whether we press on the Australian Derby (Gr.1, 2400m) or change tack and have a go at the South Australian Derby (Gr.1, 2500m) in May which is run left-handed and will suit him better.” - NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment

Race Result - Breeders Stakes Gr3 1600m

Riccarton Park Track: Good(3) Time: 1:35.53
1
Belle Fascino
- 7m Per Incanto (USA) x Playing For Keeps (NZ) (Keeper (AUS))
Tnr: S B Marsh Rdr: S L Wynne 56
2
0.2
All About Magic
- 4m Showcasing (GB) x Rosecroft (NZ) (Montjeu (IRE))
Tnr: M & M Pitman Rdr: R T Elliot 55.5
3
1.7
Bronte Beach
- 4m Reliable Man (GB) x Bronte Lass (AUS) (Stravinsky (USA))
Tnr: S B Marsh Rdr: K Asano 55
4
2.5
Just Fabulous
- 5m O'Reilly (NZ) x Fabulist (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: Ms T Rae Rdr: L J Allpress 55
5
4.5
Severine
- 5m Pins (AUS) x Paris Carver (NZ) (Fast 'n' Famous (AUS))
Tnr: Andrew Carston Rdr: C W Johnson 55
6
4.8
Pullyoursocksup
- 5m Thewayyouare (USA) x Grace Park (NZ) (Danske (NZ))
Tnr: S J McKee Rdr: S C Spratt 55
7
7.1
Zabay
- 7m Stravinsky (USA) x Obey (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: B & S Anderton Rdr: C A Campbell 55
8
7.6
Lady Rudolph
- 6m Rip Van Winkle (IRE) x Nicole's Niner (USA) (Forty Niner (USA))
Tnr: R J Patterson Rdr: L T Hemi 55
9
10.4
Blackbook
- 4m Sacred Falls (NZ) x Bequests (NZ) (Stravinsky (USA))
Tnr: N Wigley & K Milnes Rdr: G A Jogoo 55
10
12.5
Tradition
- 4m Proisir (AUS) x Dunoon (NZ) (Falkirk (NZ))
Tnr: H B Tapper Rdr: C R Barnes 55
More Reading...
Tara Talks Racing - Trials and Racing
This week we’re talking trials after an insightful set of official 2YO trials in Sydney, plus some racing and how Fangirl will eventually go to stud with two Group I wins less on her resume than there should be.
Sires With Winners - Sunday September 21
Here is the full list of 66 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Pedigree Potential –NZB Ready to Run – Nicks that Click
A quality packed catalogue for the 2025 NZB Ready to Run Sale is now online and in the lead up to the sale we’ll go looking each week for some horses of interest that jump out on pedigree for various reasons.
Breednet Follow the Official Sydney 2YO Trials - 4-6
All 2YO heats this morning run at Randwick over 850m with these trials the key factor in deciding fields for the Group III ATC Breeders Plate and Gimcrack Stakes in two weeks time.
Written Tycoon Filly Bursts into NZ 1000 Guineas Contention
The Gr.3 Sunline Vase (1400m) was expected to be the weekend’s key pointer for the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m), but a spectacular performance on the Ellerslie undercard had its own impact on fixed-odds betting for the Christchurch classic.
Breednet Follow the Official Sydney 2YO Trials - 7 – 9
All 2YO heats this morning run at Randwick over 850m with these trials the key factor in deciding fields for the Group III ATC Breeders Plate and Gimcrack Stakes in two weeks time.
2025 National Thoroughbred Week Launched
National Thoroughbred Week, the newly launched industry initiative designed to bring the public closer to the thoroughbred and our sport, is excited to confirm a truly trans-Tasman exposure, with hosts confirmed across all Australian and New Zealand regions.
Home Affairs 2YOs Shine at Official Sydney Trials
I Am Invincible’s exciting young sire son Home Affairs was the talk of the town after the yearling sales this year when his progeny topped both Magic Millions and Inglis Easter and at Randwick on Monday morning he had two runners at the official 2YO trials and both of them came out winners.
Kiwi Cup Contender Headed to Australia
Melbourne Cup aspirant Trav secured his plane ticket across the Tasman with a pleasing performance over 2100m at Ellerslie on Saturday.
One to Watch – Warrnambool
So You Think is the first sire to hit 40 winners for the season and he did it with a three year-old filly that won easily on debut at Warrnambool on Monday in the Kia Ora Stud colours.