More Group Success for Kiwi Bred Levkarte

Media Release - Saturday October 19

Kiwi-bred mare Lekvarte (NZ) (Reliable Man) collected the third Group Three win of her career with another barnstorming come-from-behind performance in Saturday’s A$250,000 James Squire Angst Stakes (1600m) at Randwick.

Levkarte arrives on the line to win the Angst - image Steve Hart

Previously the winner of the Gr.3 Belle of the Turf Stakes (1600m) and Gr.3 Aspiration Quality (1600m), the Joe Pride-trained Lekvarte has now earned A$923,330 from a 31-start career that has produced nine wins and five placings.

The six-year-old resumed with a strong-finishing fourth in the Gr.2 Golden Pendant (1400m) on September 28, and the extra 200m of Saturday’s Angst Stakes was right up her alley.

Lekvarte had drawn the extreme outside gate in a field of 14, and jockey Josh Parr took her back to settle at the tail of the field.

Parr picked a path through the pack in the straight and Lekvarte took care of the rest, producing an explosive turn of foot and storming home to edge out Quickster by a neck.

“She’s electric, isn’t she, when she can get clear air like that,” Parr said. “She really let rip after being held up slightly, so it was beautiful today.

“I sort of planned to have three, maybe four behind me in the run, but it didn't work out. But she was there for me at the finish.

“I was really keen, with how she went first-up, in the progression she made, just seeing her here in the yard. But she's had a really strong blow there today, so she's still on the improve.”

Advertisement

Pride is now keen to give Lekvarte a shot at the Gr.1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on November 2.

“She's a lovely mare and always has been,” he said. “It has taken her a little while to get to stakes grade, but as an older mare, the way she's racing now, you'd love to think there's another season in her.

“She's a really easy horse to deal with, quite aggressive but she's a dream to train and she loves this Randwick mile.

“There’s a fair few things to consider now – probably a trip to Melbourne. It’s only a couple of weeks away from the Group One for the mares, and I’d probably like to give her a go at that, to be fair. Whether or not she’s quite at that level, I’m not sure, but it’s a good chance she’ll be there. I think Flemington, being similar in a way to Randwick, would suit her.

“But I’m very happy with that win today. She has gone terrific.”

By Westbury Stud stallion Reliable Man, Lekvarte is 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.

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. – NZ Racing Desk.

Advertisment

Race Result - James Squire Angst Stakes Gr3 1600m

Randwick Track: Soft(5) Time: 1:35.31
1
Lekvarte
- 6m Reliable Man (GB) x Plumm (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: Joseph Pride Rdr: J Parr 56.5
2
0.4
Quickster
- 4m Shamus Award (AUS) x Special Favour (AUS) (General Nediym (AUS))
Tnr: P G Moody & Katherine Coleman Rdr: Jamie Kah 55
3
1.3
Hinged
- 6m Worthy Cause (AUS) x Tints (AUS) (Tycoon Ruler (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: B Shinn 55
4
1.4
Poppin' Champagne
- 4m Written Tycoon (AUS) x La Paris (AUS) (Falvelon (AUS))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: Dylan Gibbons 54
5
1.4
Unique Ambition
- 4m Tavistock (NZ) x Key To Success (NZ) (Thorn Park (AUS))
Tnr: J G Sargent Rdr: Zac Lloyd 54
6
2
Tulsi
- 4m The Autumn Sun (AUS) x Talimena (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: Matthew Dale Rdr: Craig Williams 54
7
2.5
Chica Mojito
- 4m Zacinto (GB) x Cantina (NZ) (Cecconi (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: B Avdulla 54
8
3.3
Watch My Girl
- 4m Maurice (JPN) x Minamya (FR) (Makfi (GB))
Tnr: R J Quinton Rdr: J R Collett 54
9
3.3
Zloties
- 5m Snitzel (AUS) x Polska (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: G M Begg Rdr: K Mc Evoy 54
10
4.2
Sounds Of Heaven
- 5m Kingman (GB) x Ring The Bell (IRE) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: Joseph Pride Rdr: C Schofield 55
11
4.4
Ausbred Flirt
- 6m Maurice (JPN) x Seven Year Itch (AUS) (Keltrice (AUS))
Tnr: Brad Widdup Rdr: Tyler Schiller 54
12
6.2
Terrestar
- 5m Zoustar (AUS) x Sous La Terre (AUS) (Pierro (AUS))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: J Ford 54
13
7.1
Good Banter
- 4m Tavistock (NZ) x Danza Kuduro (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: John O'Shea & Tom Charlton Rdr: Tommy Berry 56
14
9.3
One Aye
- 7m Super One (AUS) x Flying First Class (AUS) (Flying Spur (AUS))
Tnr: B Joseph & P & M Jones Rdr: Rachel King 54
More Reading...
Idyllic Prince Stakes - Phanta Leads a Sweet Trifecta for Gingerbread Man
Yarradale Stud's senior stallion Gingerbread Man achieved a rare career high for any sire when the son of Shamardal provided the trifecta in Saturday's Listed Idyllic Prince Stakes over 1300m at Belmont Park.
Inglis Ready2Race Sale Now Online
The strongest collection of sire power ever assembled for an Australian 2YO Sale will be offered at the Inglis Ready2Race Sale, for which the catalogue is now available online.
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.
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 Stakes Success For Cafe Millenium
While having just turned 5, former Sydneysider Cafe Millenium (Not A Single Doubt), who now calls Lindsay Park home, broke through for his first black type victory on Saturday, winning the Listed SAJC Leon Macdonald Stakes (1400m) at Morphettville in impressive fashion.
Hard To Cross swoops to Valley win
Six-year-old gelding Hard To Cross was aided by the three-kilo claim of Rose Hammond as the Kiwi bred landed his first victory of the preparation when landing the Ascend Sales Trophies Handicap (1523m).
Sires With Winners - Sunday August 24
Here is the full list of 67 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Bates gets creative at The Valley
Six-year-old gelding The Creator led throughout to claim the Ladbrokes Top 2/3/4 Betting Handicap (1600m) at The Valley on Saturday under a perfect Logan Bates ride.
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.
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.