Vilanova (NZ) Back in the Winner’s Circle
2 January 2016
New Zealand bred galloper Vilanova (NZ) (Commands) started the New Year in winning form with victory in the Listed A$100,000 Tattersalls Club Cup (2400m) at Randwick.
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Vilanova wins the Listed Tattersalls Club Cup. |
The now five-year-old Commands gelding won the Group 2 Autumn Classic (1800m) and the Group 3 Grand Prix Stakes (2200m) and placed third in the Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) as a three-year-old.
His five-year-old season has been frustrating for his trainer Chris Waller but a third in last month’s Listed ATC Cup (2000m), then a sixth placing beaten only three-lengths in the Christmas Cup (2400m) showed encouraging signs for Waller.
Waller gave instructions to jockey Tommy Berry to be more forward than usual and the tactics worked brilliantly as he led all of the way. Vilanova scored by one-and-a-quarter-lengths over top-weight Sir John Hawkwood (Sir Percy), then a long head back to Lucky Lucky Lucky (Lucky Owners) in third.
“He was well rated by Tommy (Berry) in front," Waller’s stable foreman Liam Prior said. “Our horse fought hard in the finish. It’s been a while between drinks but he deserved to win it.’
Yesterday’s victory was Vilanova’s fourth win and, along with eleven placings in 39 starts, has earned over A$500,000.
Waller is aiming to run the gelding in the Listed Australia Day Cup (2400m) then plans to give him a short break before getting him ready for Queensland in the winter.
Vilanova was purchased by Davis Ellis for $150,000 as a yearling at the 2012 Karaka Premier Sale from Haunui Farm.
Vilanova is out of the Red Ransom mare Valpolicella, the dam of Vavasour; the recent winner of the Group 3 Cup features, the Waikato Cup (2400m) and Counties Cup (2100m). Vavasour also won the Group 2 Sir Tristram Classic (2000m) last season as a three-year-old.