Long regarded as consistently one of the most competitive Gr.1 events on our calendar, this season’s renewal of the Gr.1 NRM Sprint at Te Rapa was no exception, all of which added merit to the winning effort of the bonny mare Viadana (Towkay-Yeah Nah by Kinjite) who basically put the race beyond doubt with 200m to go when she utilised her customary short sharp sprint to put two lengths on her closest challengers.
Last season’s Gr.1 Easter Handicap winner, Viadana now has a WFA success at racings elite level to put on an impressive resume of nine wins and eight minor placings from 26 starts and stake earnings of nearly half a million dollars. Bred by LA and Nicole Smyth, Viadana was bought for $25,000 from our Karaka 2009 Select draft by her trainer Lance Noble.
Viadana’s latest success has continued an exceptional run for her sire. Since Xmas Towkay has had 14 individual winners across New Zeeland, Australia and Asia, including three raceday doubles at North Island meetings. Exceptional value for a $5,000 plus GST service fee.
Saturday’s excitement around the farm was magnified with the LA bred and raced Manu (Darci Brahma-Sporty Spice by Carnegie) winning at Otaki. And in Australia Nadeem (Redoute’s Choices-Candide by Sound Reason) looks to have a real up and comer judging by the performance of Target In Sight (Nadeem – Xaaranthe) to win over 1200m at Randwick for rider James McDonald. The 4YO’s latest success took his record to five wins from 12 starts.
