Atishu overcomes barrier scare to win in style
Smart Savabeel filly Atishu overcome a scare at the start at Riccarton to produce an impressive
display to add to her record.
The well-related Waikato-bred and sold filly broke her maiden at her previous start and trainer
Stephen Marsh’s decision to send her south was justified.
Atishu jumped skyward at the start and rider Kozzi Asano did well to stay in the saddle. They settled
toward the back of the field before unwinding powerfully in the straight to post what looked an
unlikely win at barrier rise.
The 3-year-old will chase further black type during her southern sojourn after finishing runner-up in
her last preparation in the Listed Wanganui Guineas.
Atishu was a $260,000 purchase for Albert Bosma’s Go Racing syndication company at New Zealand
Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale.
She is a daughter of the No Excuse Needed mare Posy, who was successful twice, and she is a sister
to the multiple Group 1 winner Daffodil, dam of the recent G2 Sunline S. runner-up.
It is also the family of the G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas winner Aegon and Courier Wonder, a son of
Sacred Falls who is unbeaten in two appearances in Hong Kong.
Porcia Catonis powers home as Super Seth’s rise continues
Super Seth’s strong run continues with Porcia Catonis, who delivered a dominant win at Riccarton for Fortuna Racing. The lightly raced filly is now a two-time winner and adds to a stellar season for her sire, who boasts three Group 1 winners and a 4.34% G1 winners-to-runners strike rate.
Read More
Gutsy bebut win for Ardrossan’s Macallan
Ardrossan’s son Macallan impressed on debut in Thursday’s opener at Tauranga, overcoming Heavy10 conditions to win the Tierra Maiden 3YO (1200m) by 1.3 lengths. Trained by Wexford Stables and racing for JML Bloodstock, the gelding showed toughness and class to finish strongly before the meeting was abandoned due to weather.
Read More