Tivaci’s son impresses at Flemington 

Verifier’s timing was immaculate on Saturday when he produced a strong staying performance over 2000 metres to break his maiden at Flemington.

The three-year-old son of Tivaci powered home to claim the thick end of the A$150,000 stake in a Mahogany Series event and claim his place in the Challenge Final to be run over 2500 metres for A$200,000 on July 1.

“That will be the plan and we’ll just keep him fresh and ticking over,” trainer Nigel Blackiston.

Verifier had placed in two of his previous 10 starts and a recent fifth in the G3 Chairman’s S. at Morphettville drew attention to his prospects.

The gelding drifted well off the pace at Flemington before rider Robbie Downey was able to angle into the clear in the run home and they powered between runners to score.

“He got a bit further back than we hoped and was cluttered up,” Blackiston said.

“It was a beautiful ride by Robbie though and it opened up for him and they got the job done.”

The Waikato Stud-bred and sold Verifier was a A$80,000 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale purchase for Blackiston and is the first live foal of the Savabeel mare Checkout.

She is a daughter of the G2 Angus Armanasco S. winner Shopaholic, who has also left the stakes performers Bargain and Shop Til I Drop, and the family of the farm’s late multiple Group 1 winner and successful sire Sacred Falls.

Checkout has a yearling filly by Ocean Park and last season foaled a daughter of Super Seth and is back in foal to the son of Dundeel.