Asva (NZ) Lifts Career to New Heights in Launceston Cup

Karaka 2021 graduate Asva (NZ) (Capitalist) recorded the eighth and most significant win of his career with a bold staying performance in the A$250,000 Group Three Launceston Cup (2400m) in Tasmania on Wednesday.

Asva was offered by Mapperley Stud in Book 1 of Karaka 2021, where he was bought by Snowden Racing for $100,000. He has now earned A$500,450 from a 39-start career that has produced eight wins and 19 placings. The Launceston Cup was his first win at black-type level.

Asva had raced in good form through the summer, scoring back-to-back victories in December and January including the Devonport Cup (1880m), followed by a runner-up finish in the Summer Cup (2200m). But he was disappointing as one of the key contenders in the Group Three Hobart Cup (2400m), finishing second to last and more than 20 lengths from the winner.

That last-start performance made Asva a $26 longshot in the Launceston Cup, but he turned his form around and was right back at his very best.

Asva was ridden by Jett Stanley and settled in the back half of the field. Stanley began to move the six-year-old through his gears after the halfway stage of the race, and he slid forward around the outside of the field and took the lead before the home turn.

Asva’s superior stamina shone through down the Launceston straight, scoring by a length despite being eased down by Stanley in the final few strides.

"Everything went according to plan,” Stanley said. “We all know how keen he can get, and over the 2400 metres, there's always been that query.

“We wanted to ride him a little bit colder. He was a bit slow away, but I was happy about that as I was able to get on the back of the horse I wanted to follow, and I got him to settle and relax.

“At about the 700-metre mark, he was going too well. For horses where you don't know whether they can get 2400, there's only one way to test them – that's to let them go when they're travelling that well. He went around them so easily. From the 200-metre mark I was trying to think of my winning salute.”

Asva is trained by Glenn Stevenson at Wesley Vale.

“I put a line through the Hobart Cup run and said that he’d be a chance in this race if he could be put to sleep in the run,” Stevenson said.

“He's always shown the ability. It's about him maturing. I said I know we won the Devonport Cup, but we've got plenty of tickets left.”

Asva is the third individual stakes winner out of First Bloom (Dylan Thomas), who is also the dam of Group Three Hawkesbury Guineas (1400m) winner Exoboom (Exosphere) and the Listed Hawke’s Bay Cup (2200m) and multiple Group placegetter Fierce Flight (Flying Artie).

Vendor	Mapperley Stud Ltd
Purchaser	Snowden Racing (New South Wales)
Breeding	Capitalist – First Bloom
Sale	Lot 403, Karaka 2021 Book 1, $100,000
Breeder	Rosemont Stud Pty Ltd
Owner	Mr M W Lowe, Mr E Sakareassen, Mr M Wearne, Mrs K R Sheedy, Mr D P Sheedy, Mr N J E Lovett, Mr R Newsome, Mr P Q Conroy, Mr M J Scott, Mr D C Pfundt, Mr A F McKinnon, Mr J C Wicks, Mr D J Anderson, Miss G Sharp, Mrs W M Stevenson