Written by Georgie Dennis
Pensato (Lonhro), the Godolphin-bred sister to Coolmore sire Pierro, proved herself a big contender for the G1 VRC Oaks in November as she broke her maiden in the Kennedy Oaks Trial at Flemington on Wednesday.
Ridden by John Allen, the 3-year-old filly settled in second throughout the run and quickened up well in the straight to go on and win by 1.25l.
The Danny O’Brien-trained Salto Angel (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}) finished off strongly to score second while Star Of Eden (Wandjina) was 0.4l away in third.
“That was a nice way to break her maiden here at headquarters,” stable representative Sean Keogh said.
“We always knew she had a turn of foot and she is a nice style of filly. Obviously, she is impeccably bred but whether she had the lungs to stay was a bit of a question mark coming here today, so she has ticked off that box.
“James (Cummings) will decide where she goes next, but she will be well suited at 10 furlongs.”
Allen was impressed by the filly’s performance and said he thinks the 2500 metres of the Oaks will be no problem for her.
"She's got a great attitude," Allen said. "She relaxes nicely and is very clean in the wind so she's got every opportunity to run the trip. She's got some improvement in her as well so I can't see any issue at this stage with her getting that kind of trip (2500 metres).
"She relaxes nicely and is very clean in the wind so she's got every opportunity to run the trip." - John Allen
"To be honest, she's very adaptable. I was initially going to box seat, but she was going a little hard, so I elected to come off and sit outside the leader and we had control of the race from there."
Bred and raced by Godolphin, Pensato is the fifth winner from six to race out of Miss Right Note (Ire) (Daylami {Ire}), making her a sister to Coolmore sire Pierro and a half-sister to G2 Wakeful S. winner and multiple Group 1 placegetter Ambience (Street Cry {Ire}).
Miss Right Note herself is a half-sister to G1 Prix d’Ispahan winner Laverock (Ire) (Octagonal {NZ}), while this is also the family of G2 Ribblesdale S. winner Flying Cloud (Ire) (Storming Home {GB}).
O’Brien adds to spring contingent
Danny O’Brien has locked in at least one runner for the G1 VRC Derby as Cetshwayo (Dundeel {NZ}) took out the AAMI Derby Trial at Flemington on Wednesday.
Ridden by Jamie Kah, the 3-year-old gelding settled well back in the field and was still at the rear around the bend, but Kah managed to steer him into clear air and he stormed home, edging out Tour Of Duty (Hinchinbrook) to win by 0.2l.
Godolphin colt Choir (Teofilo {Ire}) also finished the race off nicely, coming home 0.75l away in third.
"He'll probably want another run or two just to season him up but we'd love to think he can hold together and he can be here on Derby Day," O'Brien said.
"He's very new and he ran very well at Geelong but had no luck and sort of wobbled around, and didn't know how to close the race.
"I asked Jamie to be pretty quiet on him today and let him work into the finish, the wide barrier probably helped because he's been able to get outside and wind up.
"He's done a lot of work this horse, we've had him in work for four to five months, he's a very nicely bred stayer, Trevor Delroy breeds some of the best staying horses in Australia and we're very happy to be getting some of them."
Bred and raced by Wyadup Valley Farm, Cetshwayo is the second winner from two to race out of Haraka (Foreplay), who herself is a half-sister to G1 Australian Derby fourth Bikini (Street Sense {USA}).
Further back, this is the family of dual American Grade 1 winner Fastness (Ire) (Rousillon {USA}), G1 Epsom Derby winner North Light (Ire) (Danehill {USA}) and G1 Prix de Saint-Cloud scorer Gamut (Ire) (Spectrum {Ire}).
