First Stakes-Winner for Atlante

Tara Madgwick - Saturday September 7

Hastings visitor Riva Capri indicated she will be a filly to watch at a higher level over the next few months after she broke her maiden status in stakes company when taking out the Listed The O'Leary's Fillies Stakes (1200m) at Wanganui.

Riva Capri - Race Images Peter RuberyRaced in the colours of well-known owner Lib Petagna under his JML Bloodstock banner, the Guy Lowry and Grant Cullen-trained three-year-old had looked a likely type when flashing home late for second on debut at her Hastings home track back in July.

Unsighted since that performance, Riva Capri was overlooked by most punters who sent out the well-performed pair of Flaunting and She's A Lady as favourites for the contest along with the unbeaten Trifolium.

After enjoying a comfortable run behind the pace for rider Craig Grylls, Riva Capri moved into contention on the point of the home turn as Trifolium took over from pace-making stablemate, Miss Sweet Pee.

Trifolium and Riva Capri set down to a dour battle in the home straight with Riva Capri getting her nose down at the right time to claim victory. The JML Bloodstock-owned Sorrentina ran on nicely to grab third from She's A Lady who battled on strongly after being wide throughout.

Co-trainer Guy Lowry indicated another black type assignment was on the cards for his charge after claiming the victory despite a belated start to her campaign after she missed a run at Taupo when the races were abandoned midway through the programme.

"We were a little bit worried after missing a run at Taupo," he said.

Advertisement

"I think her condition probably told in the last 50m but she was gutsy enough to hang on.

"We will back up in the Group Three at Hastings in a couple of weeks and then we will go from there."

Lowry was speaking about the Gr.3 Hawke's Bay Breeders' Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) that will be run at Hastings on September 21.

Bred by Petagna, Riva Capri is the first stakes winner for the ill-fated Mapperley Stud stallion Atlante, who passed away in 2016 after completing his second season at stud.

She is a half-sister to stakes-placed Style by Design and is the second winner from stakes-winning High Chaparral (IRE) mare  Chaparella. - NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Winning Hat-Trick for Progressive Pierro
Richard and Will Freedman probably have more talented horses in the stable than Pierro gelding Cold Brew, but few have the consistency of this four year-old who landed a winning hat-trick at Rosehill on Saturday.
King of Roseau Wins G3 Aurie’s Star
Placed in the Listed VRC Poseidon Stakes at Flemington last spring as a three year-old behind Growing Empire, Capitalist gelding King of Roseau returned to the same venue on Saturday to capture the Group III VRC Aurie’s Star Handicap (1200m).
Atlante First Stakes-Winner Bittersweet
The victory of promising three-year-old filly Riva Capri in Saturday’s Listed The O’Learys Fillies Stakes (1200m) at Wanganui conjured up mixed emotions for well known bloodstock agent Bruce Perry.
First Winner for Ill-Fated Atlante
The ill-fated Atlante sired his first winner at Hastings on Thursday when Callsign Mav took out the NZB Insurance Pearl Series Race (800m).
Crossbow Takes Aim At Flemington To Score
With quality efforts behind handy horses in his first three starts, trainer Chris Waller crossed the border to Victoria with instant success for the Star Thoroughbreds raced Crossbow, with the well-marked son of Better Than Ready breaking through for an impressive win.
Unique Filly a History Maker for Godolphin and Waller
The re-distribution of the Godolphin owned Australian racehorses has been a hot topic in recent weeks as they departed the care of James Cummings to join a wide spread of different trainers and one of those was Chris Waller, whose first runner for the blue army was a winner at Rosehill on Saturday.
Kiwi Bred Keeps Winners Coming for Payne Stable
The Patrick and Michelle Payne-trained Bold Soul has been a consistent performer right through the winter months and notched another win at Flemington when prevailing in the VRC Membership Renewals Open (2530m) on Saturday.
Te Rapa Maiden Winners Impress
Trainer Jamie Richards is in two minds about what to do with impressive maiden winner Star Of Bombay who opened her winning account with a dominant victory over 1200m at Te Rapa on Sunday.
Bountiful and Many Men to be Offered at Tattersalls Online Southern Hemisphere Pop-Up Sale
The high-class pair BOUNTIFUL (Zoustar) and MANY MEN (Study of Man) have been catalogued for the Tattersalls Online Southern Hemisphere Pop-Up Sale to be held in collaboration with Inglis Digital Australia on Wednesday 6th August to Thursday 7th August. Full details of the sale which will take place on the Tattersalls Online website are now available to view at www.tattersallsonline.com.
Dual Group Winner Too Darn Good At Flemington
A dual group winner during the Spring of her 3yo season, talented mare Too Darn Discreet showed an electric turn of foot, charging home over the top of them to win the Melbourne Cup Carnival On Sale (1620m) at Flemington on Saturday.