Flying filly Santuzza delivered on the promise she showed when finishing third on debut as she went two places better at Trentham on Saturday.
The Savabeel two-year-old had run a mighty race behind the well fancied Karaka Million candidate Padraig at the venue a fortnight earlier. That raceday experience stood her in good stead on the weekend as she bounded to an early lead from her handy barrier and then dictated to her rivals for the rest of the race.
Rider Leith Innes had a lapful of horse under him approaching the home turn and when he asked the filly to extend she streaked clear to win comfortably in a smart 56.41 seconds for the 1000 metre journey.
Co-trainer Debbie Rogerson admitted that the stable had been expecting the performance based on her debut run.
“She has the makings of a very good horse,” she commented.
“She’s had the experience down here so we were pretty confident today. Despite what she does now, we also know she will be a better three-year-old.”
Innes echoed those sentiments when questioned about the run.
“She jumped and wanted to go a bit keener than I wanted to but when I let her stride she came back nicely to me,” he said.
“She’s not really a two-year-old type so whatever she does now it will only get better next year.”
Raced primarily in the same ownership as stablemate Ferrando, the filly will now be set for a step up in intensity as she is aimed at the Gr. 2 J Swap Contractors Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) at Matamata on the 25th of February.
The victory was also a boost for the prospects of her half brother by Ocean Park, who will enter the auction ring through the Monovale Farm draft as Lot 427 during the Premier session at the National Yearling Sale series at Karaka which kicks off at 10 am on Monday. – NZ Racing Desk
Photo by Race Images
