Petagna spring team ramps up

Wellington businessman Lib Petagna will cast his net far and wide this weekend in the pursuit of spring racing riches.

Petagna has Lucia Valentina slated for the Gr.1 Colgate Optic White Stakes (1600m), formerly known as the George Main Stakes, at Randwick, with Sofia Rosa tackling the Gr.2 Tea Rose Stakes (1400m) on the undercard, while closer to home Nahema contests the Gr.3 Hawke’s Bay Breeders Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) at Hastings.

As well, Petagna will have further stakes runners at Caulfield on Saturday week, with the Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained Dal Cielo tackling the Gr.3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude and stablemate Maygrove set for the Listed Harry White Stakes.

Petagna is likely to fly to Sydney to watch his pair race there this weekend, though only if both race, as his racing manager Bruce Perry said Lucia Valentina was not certain to run unless there was rain.

“There is rain forecast and we are hoping she will run but backing her up after two weeks on a firm track would be asking a bit much of her and she could wait another week and head to Caulfield for the Underwood Stakes instead,” Perry said.

“Her second-up record is only so-so but Kris [Lees, trainer] said there was no real reason for that. She’s very well and a lot stronger this time in. We can see no reason why she can’t be right in it on Saturday.”

Lucia Valentina finished strongly for sixth resuming in the Gr.2 Tramway Stakes (1400m) at Randwick to indicate she was on track for her spring targets, which include next month’s $A3 million Caulfield Cup (2400m).