Medaglia d'Oro's Asiago Claims the Kembla Classic in a Thriller

Mark Smith - Friday March 13

Despite drifting alarmingly in betting, Godolphin’s Medaglia d’Oro (USA) filly Asiago carried her topweight to a last stride win against a competitive field of three-year-old fillies in Friday’s $200,000 Group III Carlton Draught Kembla Classic (1600m) at Kembla Grange.

In a blanket finish with a length covering the first seven across the line, Hugh Bowman weaved a passage between runners on Asiago to score a short-head win over the Not A Single Doubt filly Shout The Bar who met defeat for the first time at her third start, although it will do no harm to her full-sister who will be in the Segenhoe draft heading to the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

The Sacred Falls filly All Saints' Eve was a long-head back in third.Asiago - image Steve Hart

Trained by James Cummings, Asiago was making just her second start since winning the Group III NJC Spring Stakes (1600m) at Newcastle on November 16.

The daughter of Medaglia d’Oro (USA) hold entries for the Group 1 Coolmore Legacy (1600m) and the Group 1 ATC Australian Oaks (2400m) and Bowman believes she can run the Classic distance.

“She came here with good credentials, but she had to make her own luck because she never got much room in the straight,” Bowman said.

“I thought I had the sought of horse to maneuverer through that tight run and she was very game, it was a top effort.

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“I think she has Oaks written all over here. I don’t even know what her pedigree is, I should have done my homework before riding her, but she will eat up 2000 metres and I think she will go beyond that but the team will work out what the plans are for her but she certainly has a bright future.”

  Asiago is the third winner and first stakes-winner out of the very talented Disputes (Manton) who was kept at distances up to a mile winning the Listed ATC Reginald Allen Hcp and placed in the Listed AJC Gimcrack Stakes.

There is more confidence that Asiago will run the Oaks distance through Disputes’ half-sister Divorces  (Domesday) who won the Group III MRC Thousand Guineas Prelude and Listed Gold Coast Bracelet and placed in eight stakes races including the Group 1 AJC Champagne Stakes and was fourth in the Group 1 Queensland Oaks won by Scarlett Lady.

Disputes has a yearling filly and filly foal by Iffraaj (GB) but missed to Ribchester (IRE) last spring.

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Race Result - Carlton Draught Kembla Classic Gr3 1600m

Kembla Grange Track: Good(4) Time: 1:36.10
1
Asiago
- 3f Medaglia D'Oro (USA) x Disputes (AUS) (Manton (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: J Bowman 56
2
0.1
Shout The Bar
- 3f Not A Single Doubt (AUS) x Drinks All Round (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: A Hyeronimus 54
3
0.3
All Saints' Eve
- 3f Sacred Falls (NZ) x Halloween (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: J A O'Shea Rdr: B Avdulla 54
4
0.5
Missile Mantra
- 3f Smart Missile (AUS) x Wecansay Mak (AUS) (Starcraft (NZ))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: K Mc Evoy 55
5
0.6
Subpoenaed
- 3f Rip Van Winkle (IRE) x Notice Received (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Tommy Berry 54
6
0.8
Icebath
- 3f Sacred Falls (NZ) x Fabulist (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: Brad Widdup Rdr: C Reith 54
7
1.0
Akari
- 3f Snitzel (AUS) x Asterix (JPN) (Neo Universe (JPN))
Tnr: Brad Widdup Rdr: J B Mc Donald 55
8
1.5
Dorothy Of Oz
- 3f Redoute's Choice (AUS) x Princess Coup (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: S Clipperton 54
9
1.6
Game Of Thorns
- 3f Animal Kingdom (USA) x Only Roses (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: K A Lees Rdr: Tim Clark 54
10
1.8
Nudge
- 3f Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Julinsky Princess (NZ) (Stravinsky (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J R Collett 54
11
2.6
Strange Charm
- 3f Casino Prince (AUS) x Agnesar (AUS) (Agnes World (USA))
Tnr: A J Cummings Rdr: Jean Van Overmeire 54
12
5.6
Buba
- 3f Adelaide (IRE) x Kylie (AUS) (Danehill Dancer (IRE))
Tnr: G A Ryan Rdr: Rachel King 54
13
7.6
Pierro Rose
- 3f Pierro (AUS) x Rose Of Sharon (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Ms W Costin 54
14
9.1
Donnachiara
- 3f Eurozone (AUS) x Reglisse (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: A J Cummings Rdr: Mitchell Bell 55
15
12.4
Sorridere
- 3f Holy Roman Emperor (IRE) x Cannolina (GB) (Dubawi (IRE))
Tnr: K J Parker Rdr: J Ford 54
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