Live Drama (NZ) Scales New Heights

Low-priced South Island Sale purchase Live Drama (NZ) (Ghibellines) went to a new level with an emphatic and valuable victory in the $90,000 Group Three Valachi Downs South Island Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at Riccarton on Saturday.

It was the second stakes win and the first at Group level for Live Drama, who was bought by the No.8 Syndicate for only $8500 at the 2018 South Island Sale. She has now earned $280,865 from a 30-start career that has produced nine wins, five seconds and three thirds.

Previously the winner of last year’s Listed Great Easter Handicap (1400m), Live Drama had also played frequent supporting roles with placings in another six stakes races. But Saturday’s set weights and penalties conditions firmly favoured the six-year-old, who was the highest-rated runner in the field but carried only half a kilogram above the minimum weight. Those conditions earned her warm favouritism for the fillies and mares’ feature, and she did not disappoint.

Ridden by Kavish Chowdhoory, Live Drama sat just behind the leaders until the field spread out across the track at the home turn. That created an opening along the inside, and Live Drama drove through to take command.

The result was never in any doubt from there, with Live Drama keeping up a strong gallop all the way to the finish line to score by three-quarters of a length from the fast-finishing Burgie (NZ) (Ghibellines). The winner’s stablemate Avaquinella (NZ) (Proisir) was another long neck away in third.

“She’s carried big weights all the way through, so this race suited her really well,” trainer and part-owner Lance Robinson told NZ Racing Desk.

“It was her day today and I’m just so pleased that she pulled it off, because she deserved it. She always tries her very best. She has always run in the best of company, and we’re all so very proud of her.

“She’s quite valuable as a broodmare, now that she’s a Group Three winner as well. She’s been a terrific horse to train and a pleasure to have in the stable.”

Saturday’s race produced a quinella for White Robe Lodge stallion Ghibellines.