The Gary Portelli-trained 2yo colt Akihiro was sent off an odd-on-chance to better his elders in a 1350m maiden at Wyong on Thursday and did the job professionally to ring up the fifth winner for Maurice (JPN).
Brendon Avdulla allowed Akiro to stride along to take up the running and had his three rivals off the bit approaching the home turn.
The 3yo So You Think gelding Klopp scrambled around the turn before rallying to be beaten three-quarter of a length in second with the 3yo Dane Shadow filly Borsalina two and a quarter lengths back in third.
It was the fourth start for Akihiro, who was second to Captivant in the Victory Vein Plate at Randwick on debut.
Gary Portelli shelled out $80,000 for Akihiro out of the Arrowfield Stud draft at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
He is the third winner from four to race out of the Hussonet (USA) mare Lahana who failed to run a place in her two starts at Scone.
However, she is a daughter of one of the greats in Alinghi. Trained by Lee Freedman, Encosta de Lago's daughter won the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes, Group II Reisling Stakes, Group III Blue Diamond Prelude, and was third in the Golden Slipper at two. The following season she won the Group 1 Thousand Guineas, Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes and Group 1 Newmarket Handicap before being purchased privately by Arrowfield for a figure reported being around $3million.
Though she proved a disappointing broodmare, Alinghi left five daughters to keep the line going before her death in 2017.
A day before Akihiro’s maiden win, his yearling half-brother by Shalaa (IRE) was knocked down to Asian Bloodstock Services for $800,000 at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
With 83 live foals in his first crop, Maurice is still in the running for leading first season sire for number of winners. Only Capitalist, with seven, has more.
