Talented kiwi mare Suavito (NZ) (Thorn Park) added further black-type to her family’s pedigree with victory in the Group 2 A$300,000 Momentum Energy Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Suavito’s two-year-old half-brother by Bachelor Duke is catalogued in next week’s New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale (19 & 20 November) at Lot 117 from Mana Park.
It was a successful day for George and Maryanne Simon of Mana Park who bred and sold Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas winner Turn Me Loose (NZ) (Iffraaj) at last year’s Ready to Run Sale.
Saturday’s victory was the second stakes win for Suavito since the catalogue went to print, the Nigel Blackiston trained mare was the winner of the Group 3 Eliza Park International Stakes at Moonee Valley on Cox Plate day.
“She is just an absolute beauty,” commented Blackiston. “She has never missed a place in Melbourne apart from when she stayed in the barriers.
“She just keeps improving with time. She was strong on Saturday, she was strong in the Group 3 mile and she races to her best level every time.
“I think there is still room for improvement and I hope come the autumn or next spring, we can try her at a Group 1 – that is her next stop.”
Champion rider Damien Oliver had Suavito positioned mid-field during the running before struggling to find space in the straight. Oliver eventually weaved his way into the clear and Sauvito unleashed a powerful sprint to claim victory in the dying stages of the race, winning by a neck.
Kiwi horses enjoyed a good day on the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival with Saint or Sinner (NZ) (St Reims) and Éclair Big Bang (NZ) (Savabeel) both winning on the undercard at Flemington, while Westbury Stud stallion Captain Rio sired Group 1 Darley Classic winner Terravista .
Saturday’s win was Suavito’s fifth career victory and took her earnings to A$513,550.
Bred in New Zealand by IDL Racing Ltd, Suavito is out of unraced mare Queen Cha Cha (High Chaparral), a half-sister to multiple stakes placegetter Pinot Grigio – Veni Vedi Vici (H.K.) (O’Reilly). Her third dam is Group 1 Irish One Thousand Guineas winner Nicer (Pennine Walk).
Lot 117 will go under the hammer on the first day of New Zealand’s Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale next week.
– NZ Bloodstock
