Debutant Velocious lived up to her name when she downed a handy field of juveniles in the first race at Te Rapa on Saturday.
Carrying the moniker that means speedy or fast, Velocious was just that as she ran down race favourites Red Sea and Bellatrix Star in the closing stages of the Virtual Print Design & Branding 2YO (1000m) in the hands of in-form rider Sam Spratt.
Spratt had the daughter of Written Tycoon towards the rear of the field in the early stages as Red Sea set a solid pace up front after winning a four-way battle for the early lead.
Red Sea and Bellatrix Star looked likely to fight out the finish as their closest pursuers dropped away early in the run home, however Spratt was winding Velocious up out wide and she dashed to the front at the 100m to race away for a comfortable win.
Trainer Stephen Marsh, who was at Riccarton to saddle up a big team including Burn To Shine in the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m), was thrilled with the effort and the professionalism of the win.
“We did think the draw would play against her but Sam gave her the perfect ride,” Marsh said.
“She (Velocious) was very professional in all she did and when Sam pulled her out for her run she really showed a good turn of speed to put them away.
“She is nominated for the Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) and that will get her in the field so we can pick and choose what we do to get her to the race.
“She is very well bred so getting some black type on her page is also important so I think we might go to the Wakefield Stakes (Gr.2, 1100m) at Trentham next month and then we can give her a freshen before the Karaka Million.”
Raced by the Go Racing Burrata Syndicate, Velocious was purchased by Go Racing Syndications boss Albert Bosma for $190,000 out of the Inglewood Stud Book 1 draft at Karaka earlier in the year.
She is a half-sister to former useful two-year-old Mozzarella and closely related to Australian stakes winners Loved Up and Liesele.
Marsh didn’t have to wait long to double his winning tally for the day as Fashionista powered home from last on the corner to win comfortably in rating 65 company over 2200m in the hands of Courtney Barnes.
“To see a three-year-old filly winning over ground before Christmas is very encouraging,” Marsh said.
“We have the Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (Gr.2, 2050m) at Pukekohe on New Year’s Day as her target and maybe the New Zealand Oaks (Gr.1, 2400m) after that.”
The stable was also amongst the action at Riccarton with Nest Egg taking out the Listed Nautical Boat Insurance Metropolitan Trophy (2600m) to cement his favourite’s tag for next week’s Gr.3 Martin Collins New Zealand Cup (3200m).