Santos Filly a Natural 2YO Star

Media Release - Tuesday December 13

Ulanova has a way to go to match the deeds of the best two-year-old through Stephen Marsh’s stable, but the unbeaten youngster has the potential to make a race of it.

The current Double Tree by Hilton Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) $4 co-favourite delivered in style at Te Rapa in her spring debut and, following a break, was a runaway trial winner at Avondale on Monday.

Promising juvenile Ulanova winning on debut at Te Rapa in October. Photo: Trish Dunell

As far as juveniles are concerned, Ruud Awakening is clearly the Marsh benchmark with five wins from seven juvenile appearances and victories in the Karaka Million and Gr.1 Diamond Stakes (1200m).

Her efforts earned a crack at the Gr.1 Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m), but the outside barrier at Rosehill proved a step too far and she was unplaced.

“Ruud Awakening is easily the best two-year-old we’ve had and I have never thought we’ve had the ultimate two-year-old since her until this filly came along,” Marsh said.

“Ulanova is the most naturally talented we’ve had since Ruud Awakening, but I don’t like comparing them.”

Aquis FArm's I Am Invincible stallion Santos is the sire of Ulanova, click for more info.

A daughter of Santos, Ulanova was bred by Ancroft Stud and sold through Kilgravin Lodge’s draft at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale to expatriate New Zealand agent Michael Wallace for $150,000.

His Lexington-based Telluride Agency races the filly with brother David and American client Kuldeep Singh Rajput's Gandharvi Racing.

Wallace knows Ulanova’s family well as her pedigree page features his father Jim’s two-time Group One winner Cent Home.

Ulanova won both of her trials before carrying that form over to race day and pleased Marsh with her return hit-out over 800m on Monday.

“She was very good and I was happy she relaxed nicely enough outside of the leader and took over at the right time and was strong through the line,” he said.

“That will tidy her up and she will go to the Eclipse Stakes (Gr.2, 1200m) on January 1 and then into the Karaka Million.”

Advertisement

However, it hasn’t all been plain sailing as the youngster proved a handful early on.

“She was very difficult at the start and hard to ride. She was really tough and now everything has clicked,” Marsh said. “She still has a bit of a streak in her though, but much better than she was.”

The stable will have a number of runners at Te Rapa this Saturday and a pair of black type contenders heading south to Trentham, which is hosting relocated Awapuni features.

Oseleta will take her place in the Gr.2 Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m) off the back of a fourth placing following a tardy start in the Gr.2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) at Pukekohe.

“We were going to run her at Te Rapa last Saturday, but she drew an outside gate so we decided to wait,” Marsh said.

“Craig Zackey will ride her and we’re desperate to get some black type with her.”

The daughter of Deep Field, a four-time winner, will be accompanied south by Margaret Jean.

“She will run in the Manawatu Cup (Gr.3, 2300m) and she’s very progressive, a good and tough mare,” Marsh said.

The Sacred Falls five-year-old has won two of her previous four starts, including a tenacious last-start victory over 2100m at Pukekohe.

“Tina Comignaghi will be on her and she is riding as good as anyone so we’ve got two good jockeys and very happy to have them,” Marsh said. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Lisa Kennedy Recognized for Thoroughbred Welfare
Lisa Kennedy has always had a passion for thoroughbreds, and her efforts in guiding retired racehorses into new careers through EventStars were celebrated at Entain’s Industry Excellence Awards last Sunday as the winner of the Care and Welfare Excellence Award.
Winning Hat Trick for So You Think Filly
So You Think has ticked over $12million in seasonal earnings with 150 plus winners including seven stakes-winners and while Covert Thinking is not among the luminaries by her sire, this tenacious 3YO has won three on the trot and landed her first metro victory on Wednesday.
2026 Golden Slipper Entries – Sortable, Sale Mail – Find Out More
The new season is nearly upon us and that means all over the country a new crop of rising two year-olds are taking baby steps in the best stables in the land with the Australian Turf Club announcing this week they had received 1927 entries for the 2026 Golden Slipper, so who is in the race?
Sires With Winners - Thursday July 3
Here is the full list of 27 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday July 2
Here is the full list of 44 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Ulanova to Target Early Melbourne Spring
Leading filly Ulanova has temporarily relocated to Australia to prepare for the early part of her upcoming three-year-old season.
Ulanova dominates New Plymouth juvenile feature -first stakes winner for Santos
Speedy filly Ulanova gave her rivals a good old-fashioned beating as she led all the way to take out the Group III Platinum Homes New Plymouth Taranaki 2YO Classic (1200m) in effortless fashion.
So You Think 3YO Wins $100,000 Inglis Xtra Bonus
Good placement from the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable for progressive three year-old So You Think gelding Aloysius, who cast off maiden status at Hawkesbury on Thursday in a race that featured a lucrative Inglis Xtra maiden bonus.
Sword Poised to Strike
When the first crop yearlings by a young stallion are well received and go into the right stables that’s always a good sign and then a few months after that is when things start to get really interesting.
It's Official - Ulanova Now a G1 Winner
The Mark Walker-trained Tokyo Tycoon has been officially disqualified from his first placing in the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) at Pukekohe on March 11.