Cover image courtesy of Kirstin Ledington
Written by Paul Vettise
What you see is what you get with Levante (NZ) (Proisir) and it will be more of the same at Te Rapa where the gifted mare will be chasing the first Group 1 success of her career.
As is her custom, Levante will be out the back of the BCD Group Sprint field and giving away a start to some of her chief rivals, but the 4-year-old has showed she is more than capable of home straight thrills.
Levante is essentially a one-trick pony, but an exceptionally effective one, as far as her racing style goes and regular rider Samantha Collett will again be going with the flow aboard the lightly-tried mare on Saturday.
“She is what she is and she is going to get back. That’s how she likes to be ridden and I don’t have to have any set plan,” she said.
“I know what her racing pattern is and I know some of the better horses like Avantage are going to be in front of me. I just have to gauge when the right time is to make my run, and more so when she is ready to make her run.”
Trained by Ken and Bev Kelso, Levante won her first four starts last season and was spelled after suffering her first defeat in the G2 Wellington Guineas. She lost 5l at the start that day and was denied clear air in the straight before powering home.
Strong form line
She was a trial winner at Taupo in the spring before successfully resuming in the Listed Counties Bowl and then charged home late to finish third in the G1 Railway S. and roared home to win the G2 Westbury Classic.
“Everybody has their opinions and at the end of the day it would be easier if she jumped and put herself in her races, but she might then not have that same turn of foot,” Collett said.
“We know that she can run 32.5s for her last 600 metres, which is something the average horse can’t do. We won’t be looking to change anything with her at Group 1 level.
“She likes to find her rhythm and build up and get there at her own pace. Nothing will be changing tactically-wise.
“As good as a horse like Sunline was, when she was out in front and doing all the hard work – and I not comparing her to Sunline – they’ve all got their own way of doing things.”
Samantha Collett
Collett's first ride on Levante in her spring trial didn’t immediately send the jockey Group 1 signals.
“She never gives the same feel in a trial or trackwork as she does at the races, but then she just blows me away,” she said.
“She (Levante) never gives the same feel in a trial or trackwork as she does at the races, but then she just blows me away.” – Samantha Collett
Collett will be in Group 1 action again later on the Te Rapa card when she partners On The Rocks (NZ) (Alamosa {NZ}) in the Herbie Dyke S. and is reserved about her chances aboard the gelding, who won the race in 2019.
“His form recently has been fairly average compared to what he is capable of at his peak. I worked him on Thursday morning and he did seem very bright,” she said.
“You don’t know, but it would have to be a massive form reversal for him to pull it out of the bag on Saturday. It wouldn’t be a total shock because he has been a previous winner of the race. I’m always an optimist and you have to be with horses.”
Collett’s book of rides also includes another daughter of Proisir in Bella Button (NZ) for Peter and Dawn Williams in the G2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic.
She broke her maiden in an age group event two runs back at Ellerslie before she copped an interrupted run when unplaced in the R. Listed Karaka Million 3YO Classic.
“She’s flying under the radar and you can never discount Peter and Dawn, they’ve got three in the race to give them a strong hand,” Collett said. “She didn’t have all things go her own way last-start and has drawn a bit sticky.
“Levante is the class act of the day for me, it’s going to be pretty hard to top her.”
