Tesio Stakes Success for National Online Yearling Sale Graduate

The NZB National Online Yearling Sale is developing a reputation for producing stakes winners, with Soverato (NZ) (Vadamos) becoming the latest addition to that list in Saturday’s A$300,000 Group Three Powerflo Solutions Tesio Stakes (2040m) at Flemington.

Established in 2021, the National Online Yearling Sale on Gavelhouse Plus already has a remarkable honour roll featuring multiple Group One winner Well Written (Written Tycoon), Group Two winner Hitabell (NZ) (Embellish) and Listed winner and Group One placegetter De Armas (NZ) (Ardrossan).

Soverato was offered by her breeders Rich Hill Stud during the 2024 edition of the sale, and trainers Katrina and Simon Alexander bought her for only $10,000. She was later purchased by OTI Racing after showing ability at the trials as a two-year-old.

Now trained by Chris Waller, Soverato has had 12 starts for three wins, three placings and A$368,700 in stakes – around 45 times her National Online Yearling Sale purchase price.

Soverato won twice as a three-year-old last season and showed black-type potential with a third in the Group Three Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m), fourth in the Group Two Phar Lap Stakes (1500m), fifth in the Group One Australian Oaks (2400m) and Group One Queensland Oaks (2200m) and sixth in the Group Two Doomben Roses (2000m).

She began her four-year-old season with a seventh over 1400 metres and third over 1600 metres, and when she stepped up to 2040 metres on Saturday, she was in her element.

Jockey Damian Lane took up a handy position in sixth before angling her to the outside at the top of the home straight to stake her claim.

Soverato thrust her head in front with 250 metres to run, then turned back a wall of horses through the hard-fought final stages of the race to win by a long neck from fellow New Zealand-breds Shockletz (NZ) (Shocking) and Ocean Bay (NZ) (Vanbrugh).

“She was good,” Lane said. “She has been on an upward trajectory throughout her career and had been building to a performance like this, so it was great for it all to come together today.

“She found the line well today. She was in front from a long way out and sustained a good run. It was a good effort.”

OTI Racing director Terry Henderson suggested that the Group Two Matriarch Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on November 7 is a likely target.

“Chris Waller always said when she was a three-year-old that there was plenty to come when she matured,” he said.

“Her last two runs had been very strong, so there was a bit of confidence going into today.

“When they were going at a good clip, sitting back there, I was just thinking she needed a bit of racing room and build her up.

“I think the Matriarch back here in two weeks might be an option. Chris will make that decision, but because she’s only had the three runs, she’s certainly not over the top yet.”

Vendor	Rich Hill Stud
Purchaser	Kasa Bloodstock Ltd (Waikato)
Breeding	Vadamos – Princess Biscotte
Sale	Lot 44, 2024 National Online Yearling Sale, $10,000
Breeder	C C E, Mrs C F, Mrs I S & J W Thompson
Owner	O T I Racing, Mr A T Berry, Mrs C M Hickey, Ms D M Linnane, Mr J A Boyd, Mr A L Boyd, Mr A D Fong, Big Timer, Mr P A Tasker, Mr I Paton, 2W, Mr R Bow, Mr J M Gurrieri, Mr N A Davidson, Mr D L Blumberg, Mrs T L Franey, Mrs D A Paterson, Schooner Racing, Step Aside