Group 1 Vinery Victory for Valentina

New Zealand filly Lucia Valentina (NZ) (Savabeel) raced to a decisive victory in the Group 1 A$405,000 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) to announce herself as a leading three-year-old filly in Australia on another great day of racing for kiwi-bred horses in Sydney.

Lucia Valentina (NZ) triumphant in the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes.

The maiden Group 1 victory of Lucia Valentina followed back-to-back Australian Group 1 wins by fellow kiwi-bred mare Silent Achiever (NZ) (O’Reilly) as she once again upstaged the best stayers in Australia to win the Group 1 BMW Stakes over fellow countryman It’s a Dundeel (NZ) (High Chaparral).

Trained originally in New Zealand by Stephen Marsh for Lib Patenga’s JML Bloodstock, the Karaka Premier Sale graduate was transferred to the stable of Kris Lees for an autumn campaign in Sydney. She came third in the Group 2 Surround Stakes on her Australian debut before an unplaced effort in the Group 1 Coolmore Classic at her last start.

Hugh Bowman, who rode her in the Surround Stakes, was back aboard on Saturday and let the filly find her feet as she tailed the field for most of the journey. Bowman cut the corner entering the straight on the Heavy 8 track and set out after the leader Solicit (Street Cry).

Solicit established a large lead but Lucia Valentina pinned her ears back and dashed to the lead shy of the post to land victory by a length over Solicit with five-lengths back to another Karaka Premier Sale graduate Forever Loved (NZ) (High Chaparral) in third.

“We were confident, we have only had her a short time but have been pleased with her two runs here,” commented Lees. “I thought her two lead-up runs were spot on so we went in with some degree of confidence but with the view it was a very competitive race.

“She looks she will stay well for sure. We will definitely press on to the Group 1 Oaks now and I think she will relish the distance.

“It was an interesting story how I ended up with her. Kieran Moore who does a bit of busy for me walked in to buy her as a yearling and ran into Bruce Perry who wanted to also buy her for Lib Patenga and I train a couple of horses for Lib.

“Bruce said to me ‘we will buy her and if she measures up we will send her over to you’ so that is how she arrived. She has been sent over in really good order, Stephen did a great job.”

Saturday’s Group 1 victory was the third win from eight career starts for Lucia Valentina who was the winner of the Group 3 Wellington Stakes earlier this season in New Zealand. She has earned A$316,395 for owner Lib Patenga.

Bred by Graham and Helen-Gaye Bax of Blandford Lodge, Lucia Valentina is out of Montjeu mare Staryn Glenn, the dam of Group 3 Manawatu Classic winner Maladrino – Best Show (H.K.). Staryn Glenn is a half-sister to Group 2 winner Silky Red Boxer (Casual Lies) and Group 1 Australasian Oaks runner-up Gretchen (Bahhare). Blandford Lodge also bred last weekend’s Group 1 Rosehill Guineas winner Criterion (NZ) (Sebring).

Lucia Valentina is the fifth Group 1 winner for Waikato Stud stallion Savabeel who is enjoying a stellar season with an impressive stakes winners to runners ratio of 5.7% with an even more impressive Group winners to runners ratio of 4.8% which is among the best in Australasia.

Bruce Perry Bloodstock purchased Lucia Valentina for $60,000 at the 2012 Karaka Premier Sale from Blandford Lodge.

The two Group 1 wins in Sydney on Saturday follows another dual Group 1 day for kiwi-bred horses last weekend when both Tiger Tees (NZ) (Dubawi) and Criterion (NZ) (Sebring) both landed Group 1 victories.

Since the beginning of 2010 New Zealand-bred fillies have won 35% of Group 1 races for three-year-old fillies in Australia including Norzita (NZ) (Thorn Park) who won the Vinery Stud Stakes last year.