Lucia Valentina (NZ) Brilliant in Queen Elizabeth Stakes

A wonderful day at Randwick on Saturday for owner Lib Petagna and for the whole New Zealand breeding industry went to a new level when Lucia Valentina (NZ) (Savabeel) scored a scintillating win in the A$4 million Group 1 Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m).

Petagna’s bloodstock manager Bruce Perry purchased Lucia Valentina for $60,000 at the 2012 Premier Sale at Karaka. She has now won seven races, including three at Group 1 level, and almost $4 million in stakes.

“It’s so exciting, it’s a dream come true,” Perry said. “I just loved her when I saw her at the sales, and I love her even more now.

“This is great for everyone. It just shows you that you can go to the sales and pick out fillies who are capable of doing things like this on the world stage. You can compete with everyone.”

Lucia Valentina came from nowhere with an incredible turn of foot, charging down the outside to sail past an elite weight-for-age field and score a commanding and career-defining win.

“She just went whoosh,” awestruck jockey Damien Oliver said. “I didn’t think we were going well, but then I went from the outhouse to the penthouse in about 200 metres.”

Bred by Graham and Helen-Gaye Bax at Blandford Lodge, Lucia Valentina is one of three winners out of the Montjeu mare Staryn Glenn.

It was the third year in a row that a New Zealand-bred galloper won the Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Dundeel (NZ) (High Chaparral) won it in 2014, while Criterion (NZ) (Sebring) was a dominant winner 12 months ago.

Petagna had earlier won the Group 1 Australian Oaks with the exceptional Sofia Rosa (NZ) (Makfi), this season’s New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year. Two hours later his familiar green, blue and gold colours were to the fore again, this time courtesy of Lucia Valentina in her tour de force in Sydney’s richest horse race.