Levante was already a proven star before Saturday’s BCD Group Sprint, heading into the weight-for-age feature as a last-start winner of the G1 Telegraph at Trentham, as well as last season’s G2 Westbury Classic and seven other races in a superb 14-start career.
But she has had a tendency of being overshadowed by the tangerine colours of Te Akau Racing, filling placings in the last two editions of the G1 Railway S. at Ellerslie behind Avantage (Fastnet Rock) and Entriviere (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}). She also finished fourth and fifth behind Avantage in two other Group 1 races last season.
With Entriviere already proven to excel in rain-affected conditions similar to those at Te Rapa on Saturday, Levante went into the race in her shadow again and widely expected to be a bridesmaid to Te Akau once more.
Levante (NZ) | Image courtesy of Trish Dunell
But Levante was having none of it. The supremely talented 5-year-old swooped out of the pack in a bold move approaching the home turn, throwing down the gauntlet to her rival.
Entriviere rose to meet the challenge, and the two star sprinting mares went to war in an epic duel down the Te Rapa straight. Entriviere gave it everything she had, but Levante kept responding and ultimately pulled ahead to score by 0.5l.
Levante is trained by Ken and Bev Kelso for a syndicate that includes Ancroft Stud’s Philip Brown and his wife Catherine, along with former Waikato Racing Club Chief Executive Tony Enting and his wife Mary, plus former professional golfer Mark Tapper. The syndicate previously included bloodstock agent Michael Stedman, who died in August at the age of 73.
From 15 starts, Levante has now recorded 10 wins, three placings and earned over NZ$560,000.
“I thought he (jockey Ryan Elliot) had pressed the button too early, but she has held them out,” Ken Kelso said. “In her whole career, nothing has ever passed her in the straight when she has been in front.
“It was just another real good, tough effort. This is huge for us, and the owners are such great people and have let us do what we wanted to do with her (Levante)." - Ken Kelso
“It was just another real good, tough effort. This is huge for us, and the owners are such great people and have let us do what we wanted to do with her. It’s a big thrill for Bev and I and all the staff at home."
Runner-up Entriviere has had seven wins and four placings from 13 starts, notably including the G2 Sheraco S. at Kembla Grange in the spring.
Group 1 breakthrough for Coventina Bay
New Plymouth trainer Robbie Patterson celebrated the pinnacle of his training career as Coventina Bay (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) added the G1 Herbie Dyke S. to her previous victories in the G2 Manawatu Challenge S., G3 Cuddle S. and G3 J Swap Sprint.
A two-time second placegetter at Group 1 level, the 6-year-old unleashed a determined charge down the straight to reel in the front-running Vernanme (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}) and win by 0.75l. Last-start Group 1 winner The Chosen One (NZ) (Savabeel) finished another 1.1l away in third.
Robbie Patterson | Image courtesy of Trish Dunell
It was a special moment for Patterson, who has Coventina Bay right back at the peak of her powers after she failed to fire in Brisbane last winter.
“I’m just speechless – this is quite amazing, really,” Patterson said. “She got in the tricky part of the track, but she is just so genuine and just a good horse.
“I might be able to go back to Aussie with her now. We might just have a go at the Doomben Cup and have a good holiday as well.”
“I might be able to go back to Aussie with her (Coventina Bay) now. We might just have a go at the Doomben Cup and have a good holiday as well.” - Robbie Patterson
Passed in at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale with a reserve of only NZ$20,000, Coventina Bay has had 21 starts for 10 wins, five placings and over NZ$550,000 in stakes.
Black-type double for Richards fillies
Although he had to settle for a gallant second in the G1 BCD Group Sprint with Entriviere, champion trainer Jamie Richards still had a highly successful day at the office at Te Rapa on Saturday.
Richards saddled three winners including two at stakes level – unbeaten 2-year-old filly Maven Belle (NZ) (Burgundy {NZ}) in the G3 Platinum Homes 2YO Classic and emerging 3-year-old Self Obsession (NZ) (Shocking) in the G2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic.
Maven Belle | Image courtesy of Trish Dunell
Maven Belle was sent out as a NZ$1.80 favourite on Saturday, having scored an impressive victory in her only previous start at Te Aroha on January 3. Her reputation grew in between times without even having to set foot on a racetrack, with Te Aroha runner-up Hanalei (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) later winning the Listed Wellesley S. by 3.3l on January 15.
Maven Belle quickened smartly to take the lead 300 metres from the finish on Saturday, and she strongly withstood a firm challenge from Val Di Zoldo (NZ) (War Decree {USA}) to win by 1l.
Bred by Te Akau Racing’s David Ellis and Karyn Fenton-Ellis in partnership with Mark and Julia Walker, Maven Belle is out of Doyenne (NZ) (Kilimanjaro {GB}) – incidentally a stakes-placed half-sister to Saturday’s Group 1 sprint heroine Levante.
Maven Belle (NZ) | Image courtesy of Trish Dunell
“It was a lovely ride by Opie (Bosson) on a nice homebred filly,” Richards said. “She’s got a lovely pedigree and is closely related to Levante.
“We thought she would be able to handle the soft track today and she duly obliged. She has plenty of size and scope about her for next year and her work has been good at home, with improvement still in her.”
“We thought she (Maven Belle) Widden Swould be able to handle the soft track today and she duly obliged. She has plenty of size and scope about her for next year and her work has been good at home, with improvement still in her.” - Jamie Richards
Maven Belle’s next start could be in the G1 Sistema S. at Ellerslie on March 13.
Stablemate Self Obsession went into Saturday’s David & Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic as a last-start Group 2 winner, having captured the Royal S. at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day.
It was more of the same on Saturday as the big filly dominated the race from the front, outfighting Glory Bound (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) down the straight to score by 0.2l.
Self Obsession | Image courtesy of Trish Dunell
It was the second year in a row that Te Akau Racing trainer Richards has scored a fitting win in the race sponsored by his employers, Ellis and Fenton-Ellis – he achieved the same result 12 months ago with Amarelinha (NZ) (Savabeel).
Self Obsession is bred and raced by David Price and is out of a winning daughter of the Group 2-placed mare My Hangover (NZ) (My Halo {Arg}).
“She is a big, imposing sort of filly who is a genuine stayer that can roll along in front and sustain that speed,” Richards said. “She hasn’t got a turn of foot, but she just keeps going and we’re very proud of her.
“She is a big, imposing sort of filly who is a genuine stayer that can roll along in front and sustain that speed.” - Jamie Richards
“She was a little bit vulnerable with her fitness today, but she is going to stay all day. She has a little bit of improvement to come, with either the Lowland S. or the Sunline Vase her next target before heading down to Trentham for the Oaks (March 19).”
Valachi the big-race bridesmaids
Saturday’s feature races were a case of so close, but so far away for Kevin Hickman’s Valachi Downs.
Hickman bred and owns Val Di Zoldo, Glory Bound and Vernanme, who filled the runner-up position in the G3 Platinum Homes 2YO Classic, G2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic and G1 Herbie Dyke S. respectively.
Notably, Val Di Zoldo became the first black-type performer for her sire War Decree (USA), who stands at Inglewood Stud.
