Written by Paul Vettise
Bruce Perry has been sourcing thoroughbreds for successful owner Lib Petagna for nearly a decade and they were key players in a victory at Otaki on Thursday with a surplus of sentimentality for the pair.
It has been a wonderfully successful association and none more so than with Lucia Valentina (NZ) (Savabeel), who won seven races, including the Queen Elizabeth S., the Turnbull S. and the Vinery Stud S. at Group 1 level from Kris Lees’ stable.
The Masterton-based bloodstock agent Perry originally purchased her for Petagna at Karaka in 2012 for NZ$60,000 and she retired as the winner of more than $4.1 million.
“She’s got a Snitzel colt and she’s back in foal to Snitzel.” - Bruce Perry.
“She’s got a Snitzel colt and she’s back in foal to Snitzel,” Perry said. “He’s a really good colt too and he won’t be seeing a sale ring.”
Originally prepared by Stephen Marsh at Cambridge, Lucia Valentina also won the G3 Wellington S. and that race named in her honour on Thursday was won by the Perry-bought and Marsh-trained Crown Prosecutor (Medaglia D’Oro) with jockey Jason Waddell in the Petagna silks.
“It’s a special result and I’ve spoken to Lib and he’s pretty excited,” Perry said.
Crown Prosecutor ran sixth on debut and a couple of third placings preceded his effort at Otaki where he struck the front early on.
Not to be denied
He was hotly pursued by Swords Drawn (Camelot {IRE}), but held a strong gallop to prevail by a neck with a nose back to the filly Sentimental Miss (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}).
A half-brother to three winners, Crown Prosecutor was secured at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale for $50,000 and is out of Riptide (Exceed And Excel). She is a half-sister to the G1 Oakleigh Plate winner River Dove (Hurricane Sky).
He is the first horse raced by Petagna with Harvey and Linda Green, of Wanganui, who operate under their Huntingdale Lodge banner.
“Harvey happened to be at the sale and asked me to keep an eye out for a horse for him.” - Bruce Perry.
“Harvey happened to be at the sale and asked me to keep an eye out for a horse for him,” Perry said. “I saw this one and he was a lovely yearling.
Crown Prosecutor as a yearling
“I didn’t think we could get him within budget, but he was passed in and we shot around straight after and got him. I spoke to Lib and they went into the horse together.”
The other black type event on the card was won by the speed merchant Gift Of Power (NZ) (Power {GB}) with a meritorious performance to land the Listed Fasttrack Insurance Levin S.
She had to work hard to lead, but her early exertions took no toll in the run home and she forged clear to win by two and a-half lengths.
“It takes a very good young mare to do that, sit three wide, do the work and leave them behind.” -Graeme Rogerson said.
“She was certainly dominant. It takes a very good young mare to do that, sit three wide, do the work and leave them behind,” co-trainer Graeme Rogerson said.
“She’s a top-class mare and what’s her value as a broodmare now? She’s from the best pedigree and she’s won nine races now.”
Gift Of Power is out of the Group 1 performer Capital Diamond (NZ) (Lucky Unicorn) and another quality offering from the Eight Carat (GB) (Pieces Of Eight {IRE}) family.
She was purchased at Karaka for NZ$180,000 out of the draft of Cambridge Stud, who will offer her half-brother by Tavistock (NZ) (Montjeu {IRE}) as Lot 622 during Book 1 in 2019.
