One punter breathed a little easier following the Manco Maiden 2YO (1150m) at Te Aroha on Sunday, with their $10,000 outlay paying off when Lara Antipova (Russian Revolution) romped to victory.
The Fortuna Syndications-raced filly had shown plenty of ability at the trials, finishing runner-up in her 800m heat at Ellerslie in October before winning over 800m at Avondale last month.
She was subsequently backed into $1.80 favouritism in her debut on Sunday and duly delivered.
The daughter of Russian Revolution rocketed out of the gates, alongside Alohamoana, and she settled well outside of the early pacemaker.
The country’s leading jockey, Craig Grylls, asked her to improve at the top of the straight and she quickly responded, opening up on her rivals and running out to a comfortable eight-length victory.
Sam Bergerson, who trains Lara Antipova in partnership with Mark Walker, was impressed with her debut effort.
“She was electric,” he said. “Her trials leading in had been good.”
While she has still been a bit green in her work at home, Lara Antipova raced like a true professional and Bergerson is excited about her future.
“There is still plenty of improvement and furnishing up we think, she still does a little bit wrong at home,” he said. “She was very professional today and hopefully there are some nice targets for her over the summer.”
Stakes targets are now in the offing, which could come as soon as Trentham in a fortnight where she could contest the Gr.2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m).
“While they are up and going it is good to carry on,” Bergerson said. “The Wakefield is a quick turnaround, or the Eclipse (Gr.2, 1200m, at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day). They look like two nice initial potential targets.
“We will get her home and see how she pulls up and have a good chat with John (Galvin, Fortuna), Mark (Walker), Dave (Ellis, Te Akau principal) and the team, and work it out from there.”
Two races later, Grylls was saluting once again on a Te Akau runner, this time aboard the well-related Stella Ma Bella (NZ) (Contributer) in the Shackell Electrical Maiden 3YO (1400m).
Raced by breeder Simms Davison, Stella Ma Bella is a full-sister to the stable’s former Group One winner Campionessa, and Grylls believes she has a bright future instore.
“She is a lovely filly, she is well-bred, which does count and helps a lot,” he said. “I ended up getting a lovely trip, she began well and I was able to get in the trail and pop off when I wanted to. She has travelled up to the 250m where I gave her a shake up and she has done it soft again too.
“She has taken a lot out of that first run (third) and she is only going to improve again. I think once she gets to a mile, and maybe a little further, she will be a nice horse.”