Barnstorming Victory in Belle Of The Turf for Reliable Man's Lekvarte

Mark Smith - Thursday December 28

Racing in career-best form, the 5-year-old Reliable Man (GB) mare Lekvarte (NZ) came with a barnstorming finish for a maiden stakes success in the Group III Gosford RSL Belle Of The Turf Stakes (1600m).

Tommy Berry has time to pose for the camera (image Steve Hart)

Ridden by Tommy Berry for Joe Pride, Lekvarte came from second last to overpower Zoe's Promise (Swear) by one and a half length with      Pioneer Lass (Stratum Star) a long-head back in third.

A $210,000 purchase for BK Racing & Breeding / Andrew Williams Bloodstock from the Westbury Stud draft in Book 1 of the 2020 NZB Karaka Yearling Sale, Lekvarte advances her record to seven wins, three seconds and two thirds from 25 starts with earnings of $608,230.

Advertisement

It was the third consecutive win for Lekvarte, who started the popular pick after an impressive performance at Rosehill.

“Full credit to Joe, it highlights what a trainer he is. She was a month between runs and missed a trial,” Tommy Berry said.

“I spoke to him this morning, and he had so much confidence he said to ide her quiet and produce her late and she will be too good for them.    

“I thought I might give Benny (Vassallo) a bit of a heart attack on the corner and get his blood pumping. I’m sure he is happy now, and the Vassallo’s are great family friends.

“They have found another good one here and will reap the rewards when she goes to the breeding barn.”

A half-sister to stakes-placed Total Power (Dundeel), Lekvarte is the best of three winners from four to race for the stakes-placed Encosta De Lago mare Plumm.

A daughter of the Group 1 South Australian Oaks runner-up Madame Plume (Military Plume), Plumm was a $50,000 purchase for Lynward Park Stud from the Attunga Stud draft at the 2023 National Broodmare Sale when carrying a Bivouac colt.

Lekvarte a $210,000 Karaka yearling

Lekvarte is the 26th stakes-winner for Westbury Stud’s Reliable Man.

Figtree Thoroughbreds consign a colt by Dubious out of Plumm’s sister Madame De Lago to the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale (Lot 1248).

Advertisment

Race Result - Gosford RSL Belle Of The Turf Stakes Gr3 1600m

Gosford Track: Good(4) Time: 1:36.30
1
Lekvarte
- 5m Reliable Man (GB) x Plumm (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: Joseph Pride Rdr: Tommy Berry 57
2
1.4
Zoe's Promise
- 4m Swear (AUS) x Kinz Funky Monkey (USA) (The Green Monkey (USA))
Tnr: K A Lees Rdr: Dylan Gibbons 57
3
1.6
Pioneer Lass
- 5m Stratum Star (AUS) x Sebring's Choice (AUS) (Sebring (AUS))
Tnr: Matthew Smith Rdr: G Buckley 54
4
3.3
Rebel Rama
- 6m Dissident (AUS) x Mossarama (AUS) (Mossman (AUS))
Tnr: M C Conners Rdr: A B Collett 56
5
3.4
Finepoint
- 5m Pins (AUS) x Zarzuela (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Tyler Schiller 59
6
4.5
Ita
- 6m All Too Hard (AUS) x Dayita (AUS) (Show A Heart (AUS))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: Rachel King 54
7
5.5
Burning Need
- 7m The Factor (USA) x Sukhar (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: Ross McConville Rdr: Zac Lloyd 54
8
8.2
Arale
- 5m Foxwedge (AUS) x Tipsy Express (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: Benjamin Smith Rdr: Ms R Freeman 54
9
8.4
Bakerloo
- 3f The Mission (AUS) x French Fantasy (AUS) (French Deputy (USA))
Tnr: P M Perry Rdr: Reece Jones 54
10
17.2
Street Candi
- 5m Pride Of Dubai (AUS) x Borobodur (AUS) (Strategic (AUS))
Tnr: Ms K Buchanan Rdr: Ashley Morgan 54
More Reading...
Merchant Navy 3YO Primed for Spring Stakes Campaign
Cody Cole is happy to play a waiting game with Landlock before confirming the three-year-old’s main goals for the season.
Reliable Man's Lekvarte Wins Emancipation - Heading To Inglis Chairman's
Quality six-year-old mare Lekvarte recorded a hard-fought Group II victory when landing the Emancipation Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on Tuesday.
Karaka Graduate Lekvarte Wins G3 Aspiration
Quality Karaka graduate Lekvarte (NZ) (Reliable Man) produced an extraordinary finish to add a second stakes win to her CV in Saturday’s A$250,000 Group Three Mostyncopper Aspiration Quality (1600m) at Randwick.
Narrow Miss for Hellbent Gelding in G2 Foxbridge
Lhasa proved he is more than a synthetic track specialist when he nearly caused an upset when finishing runner-up in Saturday’s Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa.
Was it that Unusual? Who is the Oldest?
There was a lot of attention in the media regarding the age of Australian Horse of the Year elect Via Sistina (IRE) when she returned to racing for a new campaign at Randwick last Saturday, but was it really that uncommon to see an eight year-old G1 winner?
Sires With Winners - Monday August 25
Here is the full list of 12 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Top Filly Beats Top Colt in G1 Prix Morny
The Group I Prix Morny (1200m) at Deauville overnight produced a mightly clash between unbeaten Starspangled banner colt Gstaad and unbeaten filly Venetian Sun with the filly prevailing, although Starspangledbanner got some consolation with a new G3 winning 2YO at Goodwood.
First Southern Hemisphere foals for Paddington
A four-time Group I winner by champion French sire Siyouni, European superstar, PADDINGTON, has had his first Southern Hemisphere foals arrive on the ground at Windsor Park.
Spring Trial Watch – Hawkesbury
There was an interesting set of trials at Hawkesbury on Monday that featured heat winners including Golden Slipper winner Marhoona, Randwick Guineas winner Linebacker as well as the Waterhouse Bott stable Cups contenders Sir Delius (GB) and Vauban (FR), plus we may have seen an Everest horse.
Well Bred Zousain Debut Winner
A full sister to Zousain’s Group III winning filly Drifting, Cheeky Contiki made a winning debut at Pakenham on Monday for the Lindsay Park Racing team.