Lucia Valentina on target

20 March 2015

Improvement is expected from the New Zealand-bred and owned mare Lucia Valentina in Saturday’s $A500,000 Gr.1 Ranvet Stakes at Rosehill.

The dual Group One winner was a strong first-up fourth for trainer Kris Lees in the Gr.2 Apollo Stakes before finishing midfield in the Gr.1 Chipping Norton Stakes last time out.

“She has come on a lot and hopefully she’s over the second-up blues,” said Bruce Perry, who manages owner Lib Petagna’s bloodstock interests. “I know Kris is pretty excited about her.”

Petagna is also a part-owner of the Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained Maygrove, who will continue his build-up toward the Sydney Cup in the $A150,000 Gr.3 Mannion Cup. He was an encouraging fourth in his Australian debut.

“His last run was really good and he ran a pretty quick last 400,” Perry said. “There’s a lot of improvement in him,” Perry said.

Friendships, fate and a first winner

Ocean Park filly Bridie delivered apprentice Tom Wingram his first career winner at New Plymouth today — a moment made possible by three decades of friendship and the racing gods aligning perfectly.

9 June 2026

Archibald Racing open Noverre’s account with debut winner

The next chapter in Noverre’s journey as a sire has begun, with the Waikato Stud-bred stallion’s WS-bred son, Hailstones (ex Cool Storm), becoming the first winner for the Group 1-winning son of Savabeel.