Viadana Saves Best for Last in G1 Easter Handicap

Progressive mare�Viadana�saved her best performance for New Zealand�s last Group 1 race of the season at Ellerslie on Saturday when winning the $200,000 Group 1 Manco Easter Handicap (1600m).

The five-year-old daughter of Towkay (ex Yeah Nah) came into the race having contested six straight group races this preparation which saw her win the first, the Group 3 Eagle Technology Stakes at Ellerslie in December, and place in the Group 2 Japan Trophy at her last start.

Viadana is the third Group 1 winner for her sire Towkay who has 3 weanlings on offer at the May Sale

The Lance Noble trained mare is somewhat of an Ellerslie specialist having taken four of her seven career wins on the track and she was impressive on Saturday, bursting out of the pack in the straight with a powerful turn-of-foot and holding off the fast finishing Postman�s Daughter to win by a nose under jockey Mark Du Plessis.

�It was a great result,� commented Noble. �She has been racing well this season and she had a bit of bad luck at her last start in the Group 2 Japan Trophy where she was only just beaten and was found to have pulled her hamstring in her hind leg.

�We gave her a small break and missed the Group 1 Thoroughbred Breeders� Stakes in favour of Saturday�s race just to give her time to recover and she was really impressive in the race, she loves Ellerslie and she loves the mile.

�We will possibly take her to the Group 2 Travis Stakes at Te Rapa in two weeks. She has never started over 2000 metres so we are keen to see how she will handle the trip with a view to next season.�

Viadana was bred by Little Avondale Trust and is raced by the Easdon No. 4 Racing Syndicate which is managed by Lance Noble. She has won seven of her 20 starts and placed on a further five occasions for over $270,000 in stakes.

The mare was offered by Sam & Catriona Williams� Little Avondale Stud at New Zealand Bloodstock�s 2009 Karaka Select Sale and was purchased by Lance & Leigh Noble for $25,000.

Viadana is the third Group 1 winner for her sire Towkay who stands at Little Avondale Stud. The sire of 12 stakes winners, Towkay�s other top performers include Group 1 NZ Thoroughbred Breeders� Stakes winner Special Mission and Group 1 Levin Classic winner Ambitious Owner.�