A bright future is being tipped for Sibling Rivalry (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) after she broke through for her maiden win in the Harcourts Monarch (1150m) at Te Aroha on Tuesday.
The three-year-old daughter of Satono Aladdin was fair away, but jockey Craig Grylls got busy on her early, driving her forward to sit outside leader Van Damme.
Van Damme set a good tempo up front, with Sibling Rivalry keeping him company throughout, and turning for home the pair had opened up a good margin on their rivals and looked fully in control of the race.
Sibling Rivalry stuck her head out in front at the 250m and continued her forward momentum, and was able to hold off the fast finishing Deprive to win by 1-1/2 lengths.
Trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson had been pleased with her early progress, having won her first two trials before finishing in a dead-heat for second alongside the well-regarded Ashoka behind subsequent Group One winner Well Written in a 800m heat at Ellerslie in September.
Sibling Rivalry went on to finish fourth on debut over 1000m at Taupo last month, and her connections were pleased to see her bounce back in good fashion at Te Aroha.
“It was a good ride of Craig’s to get her forward outside the leader and she quickened up nicely in the straight to win well,” Walker said.
“It’s great to see her in the winner’s circle so early in her career and she won with enough authority to suggest she can go on with it from here.
“It’s been tough getting the horses ready, through a wet spring, but she’s found winning form and should take good confidence out of it.”
Sibling Rivalry is out of five-win mare Justlikemysister, a half-sister to stakes winner Wazawatsyn, the dam of Group Three performer Wewillrock. She was offered through Kaha Nui Farm’s New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft last year where she was purchased by Te Akau principal David Ellis for $220,000.