Four-year-old mare Lekvarte (NZ) looks to have a bright future after coming from the rear of the field to claim the Yes Yes Yes First Yearlings Handicap (1400m) at Randwick, scoring comfortably in the hands of Chad Schofield.
The daughter of Reliable Man is prepared by Joe Pride for B K Racing & Breeding and Ben Vassallo.
Saturday’s success was a metropolitan breakthrough for the mare, who has now won three of her 13 starts, with a further four placings.
“She has always promised a lot and it was disappointing last preparation to be disadvantaged by so many wet tracks,” Pride said.
“I think now as a four-year-old and being by Reliable Man she will really train on.
“She is more than capable. While it is her first Saturday win, she is still only lightly raced and there is really good upside to her. B K Racing are great supporters of the stable and I am really happy to have a nice mare on the way up for them.”
Schofield was also taken by the mare, who was second-up after finishing runner-up at the Kensington when resuming early in the month.
“We hoped for a bit of speed and Joe was quietly confident before the race,” Schofield said. “We got the pace up front and I cut the corner because I was going so well.
“She came off the bridle really sharply and had a very good turn of foot.
“It is only an off-season race but she won very, very well. It was quite easy. She will obviously get a bit further and is in for a good preparation.”
Out of the black-type Encosta de Lago mare Plumm, who was runner-up in the Gr.3 Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m) for Grahame Begg, Lekvarte is by Group One sire Reliable Man, who stands at Gerry Harvey’s Westbury Stud.
The talented grey was sold as a yearling through the Westbury Stud Book 1 draft at Karaka in 2020, knocked down to BK Racing & Breeding in conjunction with Andrew Williams Bloodstock for $210,000.
Earlier on the Randwick card With Your Blessing ran out a ready winner of the Midway Handicap (1200m) for trainer John Thompson, with the son of Vadamos posting his third win from ten starts. - NZ RAcing Desk
