Syndicator’s golden run with flying female gallopers continues

Lara Antipova continued a stunning season for jockey Craig Grylls in the Wakefield Challenge Stakes on Saturday. Photo / Peter Rubery

Fortuna Racing look to have another exciting filly on their hands after Lara Antipova romped to victory in the Group 2 Windsor Park Stud Wakefield Challenge Stakes at Trentham on Saturday.

The Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained juvenile was eye-catching when winning by eight lengths on debut at Te Aroha less than a fortnight ago, giving punters the confidence she could put in a similar showing in her debut stakes appearance.

They duly backed her in their droves, with the daughter of Russian Revolution shortening into $1.20 favouritism on Saturday.

Premiership-leading jockey Craig Grylls was positive out of the gates with Lara Antipova, but she was burnt for early speed by the Andrew Forsman-trained Lassified on her outside.

Lassified eventually found the fence after crossing a green Magill, with Lara Antipova settling on her outside. Lara Antipova loomed ominously at the turn and bounded to the lead when asked the question by Grylls, opening up several margins on her rivals, eventually running out a dominant four-and-a-half-length victor.

Bergerson was rapt with his filly’s winning effort, particularly after backing up from her debut heroics.

“She is a very exciting filly. She has just kept on giving the more we have asked of her,” he said.

“It’s not an easy feat to turn around in 13 days and travel down here, but she seems to really enjoy the racing, which is going to hold her in fantastic stead.

“It was good to see her get outside the leader. The one outside her [Lassified] showed some really good gate speed and it took a while to get across. Once she got outside the leader she settled really nicely and it was great to see her show that turn of foot again.

“She just relaxes so well, which is so key, and I think if he had ridden her back she would drop the bridle and still show it [turn of foot].”

Lara Antipova was purchased by Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis, in conjunction with Fortuna Racing, for A$100,000 ($115,000) out of Vinery Stud’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft earlier this year.

It extends the run of success the two entities have shared over the past few years, which includes the likes of 14-time Group 1 winner Melody Belle and Group 1 performer Bellatrix Star.

“I am stoked for John Galvin [Fortuna principal], who has always been a massive supporter, and it is really exciting for him to have another 2-year-old like this,” Bergerson said.

“Hopefully she can go on with it now and target some really nice races.”

Those nice races will likely come at the end of summer and into autumn, with the pre-race plan being to freshen the filly before some feature targets later this season.

“We had a bit of a chat and win, lose or draw we would probably give her a freshen-up and probably go to the Matamata Breeders’ [Group 2, 1200m] and then into the Group 1s,” Bergerson said.

“We will get her home, see how she does and have another team talk.”

– LOVERACING.NZ News Desk