Atlante First Stakes-Winner Bittersweet

Media Release - Monday September 9

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.

Riva CapriPerry, who selects and manages the thoroughbred interests of Wellington-based owner/breeder Lib Petagna, was thrilled to see the Guy Lowry and Grant Cullen-trained filly carry Petagna's colours to victory as the first stakes winner for the ill-fated Mapperley Stud stallion Atlante.

The win also brought with it the sting of losing Atlante to a freak accident after completing his second season in the breeding barn, with Petagna holding a significant stake in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) winner.

Riva Capri is the second foal of High Chaparral mare, Chaparella who Perry had purchased for $38,000 on Petagna's behalf at the 2015 New Zealand Bloodstock Winter Mixed Bloodstock Sale.

"It was quite special to see her (Riva Capri) win on Saturday as she will always be in the record books as Atlante's first stakes winner," Perry said.

"Guy and Grant had told us all along they thought she had plenty of ability and she certainly showed that on Saturday.

"She missed a run when they called off the Taupo meeting, which I think showed a little over the last 50m.

"She's plenty tough though and hopefully she can go on with it now."

Perry was philosophical about the circumstances surrounding the demise of Atlante but admitted he did harbour a what might have been feeling after witnessing Riva Capri in action.

"It can be a tough old game at times and when we lost Atlante it was a blow as Lib was heavily invested in him and the mares' we had bought to support his stud career," he said.

"Riva Capri's dam was one of those we bought specifically for that purpose so I know Lib is pretty chuffed to breed and own Atlante's first stakes winner despite what has happened.

"You can't help but think what heights he might have reached as a stallion but on the other hand he could have flopped as you just don't know in the breeding game."

With the death of Atlante, Petagna and Perry had to make some significant commercial decisions about the broodmare band that they had assembled to support the stallion, including the sale of Chaparella.

"A number of those mares became surplus to requirements once Atlante died so we did have to move many of them on," Perry said.

"We sold Chaparella in foal to Per Incanto at the 2018 May Sale at Karaka along with her Atlante weanling colt.

Advertisement

"Our thinking was if the family was to become a commercial prospect in the sale ring then it would be through the deeds of Riva Capri, who Lib had retained.

"Sometimes you have to make a tough call but Lib is a commercial breeder and that goes with the territory."

While most of the attention on Saturday was centred around Riva Capri, the run of the Petagna-owned Savabeel filly Sorrentina to flash into third in the race also brought a smile to Perry's face.

Petagna has enjoyed staggering success with the progeny of Waikato Stud stallion Savabeel with Sorrentina becoming the ninth black-type Savabeel from the 12 he has owned.

"Lib and the whole industry have a lot to thank Savabeel for," Perry said.

"Sorrentina is a filly we purchased for $180,000 from Waikato Stud's 2018 Karaka draft and she has the makings of a classic filly by the look of her.

"To get black-type first up is fantastic and augurs well for the future.

"Stephen Marsh (trainer) has liked her all the way along and has done well with this type of filly for Lib in the past.

"She holds a nomination for the 1000 Guineas (Gr.1, 1600m) at Riccarton so I think once the dust has settled from her debut run that will be where Stephen will be heading with her.

"If she can perform at the top level then there is no reason to think she won't head to Sydney in the autumn."

Marsh is no stranger to success for Petagna having prepared 2009 Gr.1 Australian Oaks (2400m) winner Sofia Rosa for Petagna while he also trained multiple Group One winner Lucia Valentina during her New Zealand career before she was transferred to the Australian stable of Kris Lees.

Petagna rounded out a successful weekend when he was voted Owner of the Year for the fourth successive year at the New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Horse of the Year Awards at Ellerslie on Sunday evening.

Petagna had 14 winners or stakes-placed horses, from 26 runners, including Gr.1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeder's Stakes (1600m) winner Nicoletta and Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) winner Crown Prosecutor (who he holds a 50 percent interest in). - 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.
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.
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).
Sliding Doors Moment Delivers Feel Good Winner at Rosehill
Two fillies were born at Yulong in 2021 sired by Alabama Express from imported North American daughters of Street Cry, one of them is triple Group I winner Treasurethe Moment and the other is the feel good winner of the day at Rosehill on Saturday.
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.
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.
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.
Kosciuszko calling Rosehill winner Elson Boy
Dubbo-trained Elson Boy was back in the winner’s circle after a 412-day absence when leading throughout to land the Jockeys Celebration Day Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill in the hands of apprentice William Stanley.
Sires With Winners - Saturday August 2
Here is the full list of 101 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
The Novelist Returns to Form
The very first stakes-winner for his sire Written By when winning the Group III BRC BJ McLachlan Stakes in December 2022, The Novelist made light of the heavy 10 track at Rosehill on Saturday to claim another victory.