Written by Paul Vettise
A perfect start awaits Proisir (Choisir) when the first 2-year-old event of the Australasian season opens at Wanganui on Saturday.
The Rich Hill Stud stallion’s daughter Alto Potenza has made all the right moves ahead of her debut.
She has been a trial winner for trainers Johno Benner and Hollie Wynyard and will have only four rivals to deal with in the Wanganui Steelformers Juvenile Plate. The filly is raced by her Masterton breeder Helen Phinney and is from the Pencarrow Stud family of the G1 New Zealand Oaks winner Vapour Trail (Jetball).
“It’s hard to line up the trial form, but she was quite impressive and it would be a great start for Proisir,” Rich Hill principal John Thompson said. “I’m sure she’ll run well, she looks a big, strong filly.”
Watch: Alto Potenza as a yearling
“It’s hard to line up the trial form, but she was quite impressive and it would be a great start for Proisir.” - Rich Hill principal John Thompson.
Proisir was a lightly-raced colt who won three of his seven starts, including the G3 Spring S., and was runner-up in both the G1 Spring Champion S., and the G1 Randwick Guineas. He has subsequently proved to be a popular stallion since his retirement in 2015 to Rich Hill.
“He’s served over 100 mares in each of his first three seasons and he was New Zealand’s most popular first season sire, he served close to 150 mares,” Thompson said. “He’s had great support and his stock have found their way into some top stables, both here and in Australia.
Proisir winning at Rosehill
“He’s had great support and his stock have found their way into some top stables, both here and in Australia.” – John Thompson.
“Interestingly, his second book was better than his first after his brother Divine Prophet won the Caulfield Guineas and it’s shaping up very nicely for this season again. He’s been a dream horse really, he’s a good-looker and got a good temperament.”
Black type racing
A pair of black type events feature on the Wanganui card and Peaceful (Savabeel) will step out in the Listed O’Leary’s Fillies’ S., ahead of a possible trip to the Melbourne spring carnival. Prepared by champion trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman, she hasn’t been seen since she won last season’s Listed Futurity S., at Ellerslie.
She was bought out of Westbury Stud’s 2017 draft at Karaka by Lib Petagna’s bloodstock manager Bruce Perry for NZ$260,000. Peaceful is out of Paloma (NZ) (Mossman) and a half-sister to the stakes performer Miss Fi (NZ) (Makfi {GB}).
Peaceful was a $260,000 Karaka yearling purchase
Peaceful’s stablemate Botti (NZ) (Jakkalberry {IRE}) will be the centre of attention in the Listed HS Dyke Wanganui Guineas. The three-quarter brother to the ill-fated dual Group 1 winner Lion Tamer (NZ) (Storming Home {USA}) won his only start as a 2-year-old for the Muollo family and holds a G1 Caulfield Guineas nomination.
