Lucia Valentina (NZ) the Matriarch of Flemington

Group 1 winning kiwi mare Lucia Valentina (NZ) (Savabeel) ruled at Flemington once again with victory in the A$300,000 Group 2 Presto Matriarch Stakes (2000m).

Lucia Valentina (NZ) wins the Group 2 Presto Matriarch Stakes.

Returning to the site of her Group 1 Turnbull Stakes win, Lucia Valentina’s win on Saturday was her second Group 2 victory to go with her two Group 1 success, the other coming in the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes as three-year-old.

Karaka graduate Preferment (NZ) (Zabeel) continued the success of kiwi-bred horses in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes, following Lucia Valentina, to win this year’s edition of the race.

Lucia Valentina’s win came immediately after NZB Ready to Run Sale graduate Turn Me Loose (NZ) (Iffraaj) won the Group 1 Emirates Stakes – the fourth graduate to win a Group 1 race at the Melbourne Spring Carnival following Mongolian Khan (Holy Roman Emperor) winning the Group 1 Caulfield Cup, Tarzino (NZ) (Tavistock) victorious in the Group 1 Victoria Derby and the Group 1 Melbourne Cup won by Prince of Penzance (NZ) (Pentire).

Having her first preparation in New Zealand in Stephen Marsh’s stable, Lucia Valentina won her first two races including the Group 3 Wellington Stakes before joining current trainer Kris Lees in Australia.

Entering Saturday’s race with four previous runs this preparation, the daughter of leading New Zealand sire Savabeel’s best performance this season was when she finished fourth in the Group 1 George Main Stakes at Randwick to Kermadec (NZ) (Teofilo), also a graduate of Karaka.

“I am very pleased she is back in winning form,” commented Lees. “She has been performing consistently at a high level but she appreciated the drop in grade on Saturday and raced accordingly.

“She has a nomination for the Hong Kong International Races - hopefully she will get an invitation.”

Race-favourite Lucia Valentina dropped to the rear of the field in the early stages with just one runner behind her after commencing from barrier 14 for jockey Damien Oliver.

Peeling out on the home turn, Lucia Valentina took the widest path to charge down the outside in the home straight and race to victory by one-length over Manageress (Magnus) and Casino Dancer (Casino Prince), who finished in second and third places respectively.

Owned by Lib Petana, the five-year-old mare has amassed over A$1.5 million in prizemoney, winning six races from 24 starts.

Bruce Perry purchased Lucia Valentina for NZ$60,000 on behalf of Petagna at the 2012 Karaka Premier Sale from Blandford Lodge.

Bred by Graham and Helen-Gaye Bax of Blandford Lodge, the daughter of Savabeel is out of Staryn Glenn (Montjeu), the dam of Group 3 winner Malandrino (Darci Brahma). Staryn Glenn is a half-sister to Group 2 winner Silky Red Boxer (Casual Lies) and Group 1 placegetter Gretchen (Bahhare).

Savabeel, last season’s Champion Sire in New Zealand, has 13 two-year-olds catalogued in the NZB Ready to Run Sale next week (18 & 19 November).

Also to win at Flemington on Saturday was Karaka graduate Divan (NZ) (Zabeel) and Rhythm to Spare (NZ) (Pins), both graduates of Premier Sale.