Kiwi mare to tackle Emirates
26 October 2016
New Zealand-bred mare Lucia Valentina will make another Melbourne spring carnival appearance.
The Lib Petagna-owned daughter of Savabeel has been confirmed for the Gr.1 Emirates (Mackinnon) Stakes at Flemington on Saturday week.
Lucia Valentina finished seventh behind Winx in the Gr.1 Cox Plate and she has come through the Moonee Valley race well.
“Obviously, we were disappointed, but from where she was in the run, her closing sectionals were okay,” trainer Kris Lees said. “We know the bigger tracks such as Randwick and Flemington suit her.”
Recent News
14 July 2026
Tivaci’s Movie Night steals the show at Newcastle
A sister to the Gr.1 ATC Flight Stakes (1600m) winner Never Been Kissed, the Waikato Stud-bred and raced Movie Night (NZ) was rewarded for her consistency, breaking her maiden with an all-the-way win over 1400m at Newcastle for trainer Tom Charlton.
Read More
9 July 2026
Oilman’s stud stake could change course of NZ breeding
Eighteen months ago, Texas oilman Nelson Bunker Hunt walked through the lush Waikato pasture of Matamata’s Balcarres Stud and announced he wanted some just like it for his own.
Today he has-360 acres about a mile down the road which has been transformed from a dairy farm to one of New Zealand’s leading horse and cattle breeding establishments.
Read More