The connections of Terravista (Aus) (Captain Rio {GB}) were left wondering what could have been after last year's G1 Black Caviar Lightning S., with the gelding finishing a hard-luck second to the champion sprinter Chautauqua (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}) after jockey Damien Oliver fumbled his whip at a critical stage. Terravista found his fortunes reversed in Saturday's renewal of the Lightning, however, earning a second Group 1 score in a dramatically run race. The theatrics began in the barriers when The Quarterback (Aus) (Street Boss) threw a fit and became caught under the starting gate, resulting in the late scratching of himself and the runners either side of him–Faatinah (Aus) (Nicconi {Aus}) and Orujo (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}). Once regrouped and away, Heatherly (Aus) (Lonhro {Aus}) took up the lead with fancied 3-year-old Star Turn (Aus) (Star Witness {Aus}) on her inside. Flying Artie (Aus) (Artie Schiller) sat 2 1/2 lengths off the lead with Terravista on his heels and Speith (NZ) (Thorn Park {Aus}) on the eventual winner's outside. Initially in traffic entering the final 300 metres, Terravista turned on the afterburners when seeing daylight passing the 100 and got up just in time in a thrilling four-horse blanket finish. Speith, who was left with nowhere to go until too late, was recording a second straight runner-up effort by the narrowest margin in a Group 1 sprint, having missed by a short head when last seen in the G1 Darley Classic in November. Favourite Flying Artie, who had also become unsettled in the barriers and had raced fractiously through the opening stages, failed to fire.
Saturday, Flemington, Australia
LIGHTNING S.-G1, A$752,500, VRC, 2-18, Open WFA, 1000mT, :57.26, Good.
1–TERRAVISTA, 58.5, g, 7, by Captain Rio (GB)
1st Dam: Parfore (NZ), by Gold Brose
2nd Dam: Classy Twiggy, by Twig Moss (FR)
3rd Dam: Enchantress (NZ), by Sir Tristram (IRE)
O-N B Couper, A J Rix, G J Robinson, T M Ungar, I A McKinnon,
I G Cornell, Mrs L M Blundell, P W Callaghan, P J Trowbridge &
Ms J M Barnier; B-Mr M Ryan NSW; T-Joseph Pride; J-C W
Brown; A$452,500. Lifetime Record: 25-11-3-3, A$2,465,005.
*1/2 to Our Lukas (Aus) (Generous), MSW & GSP-Aus,
A$670,800; Tiger Tees (Aus) (Dubawi {Ire}), G1SW-Aus,
A$1,247,250; Super Easy (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}), Horse of
the Year & Ch. 3yo Sprinter-Sin, MSW & G1SP-Sin, $1,669,259;
and Ball Of Muscle (Aus) (Dubawi {Ire}), GSW & G1SP-Aus,
A$697,725. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for
the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Spieth (NZ), 58.5, h, 4, Thorn Park–Stella Livia (GB), by Titus
Livius (FR). (NZ$200,000 Ylg 2014 NZB National Yearling Sale)
O-M W O'Keeffe, Ms V J King, Emmaroo Bloodstock (Mgr: Mrs
C J Murray), G K Lawler, J R Braham, P J C Murphy, S J Conroy,
P J Townsend, C R Hamilton & W Roberts; B-Trelawney
Thoroughbred Ltd, Waikato, NZ; T-Bryce Heys; J-J Bowman;
A$135,000.
3–Star Turn, 55.5, c, 3, Star Witness–Golden Delicious, by Made
of Gold (USA). (A$400,000 Ylg 2015 MM Gold Coast Yearling
Sale) O-A R Bell & Vinery Stud (Mgr: P C Orton); B-Widden Stud
Australia Pty Ltd NSW; T-M, W & J Hawkes; J-D Dunn;
A$67,500.
Margins: 0.1 len, 0.2 len, 0.3 len. Odds: 14.00, 5.00, 3.00.
Also Ran: Flamberge, Illustrious Lad, Heatherly, Flying Artie, Counterattack, Supido. Scratched: Faaatinah (Aus), Missrock (Aus), Orujo (Aus), The Quarterback (Aus).
Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO.
Terravista, who had recorded his first Group 1 score in the Darley Classic of 2014, had just two autumn outings after last year's Lightning but made little noise, checking in ninth in the G1 Galaxy H. and sixth in the G1 TJ Smith S. The chestnut was out of action much of the spring and resumed with a second over this track and trip in the Listed Mumm S. on Nov. 3. He was a well-beaten 10th when traveling to Perth for the G1 Winterbottom S. three weeks later, and was making his reappearance on Saturday. Trainer Joe Pride told Breednet.com.au, “I watched him travel. He looked like he was going beautiful. Obviously, I was worried he wasn't going to get a run but I prefer to see him like that than out in the clear. He's the 1000 metre horse in this field and if he hadn't have got there today, it was going to be a worry about when he was going to beat these kind of horses.”
All the money before the race was on the 3-year-olds Star Turn and Flying Artie, but in the end they were not able to become a rare 3-year-old winner of the Lightning, a feat last achieved by Fastnet Rock (Aus) (Danehill) in 2005. Star Turn's rider Dwayne Dunn said, “He was a head away from being a Group 1 winner. He had the right run but he couldn't put a length on them when they sprinted but it was a good effort.”
Damien Oliver, the jockey aboard Flying Artie, said, “He just raced a bit too fresh early and didn't switch off and conserve. Supido was then laying in and not letting him out. But I think the fact that he raced so fresh dulled his finish.”
Pedigree Notes…
Terravista is the brightest light of the excellent producer Parfore, who is also responsible for G1 Galaxy H. winner Tiger Tees (Aus) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Super Easy (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}), Singapore's Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old sprinter. Also to her credit are G2 QTC Cup winner Ball Of Muscle (Aus) (Dubawi {Ire}) and stakes winner Our Lukas (Aus) (Generous). Parfore died last year aged 18 and her last foal is a yearling colt by Rip Van Winkle (Ire). Terravista's second dam is the stakes winner Classy Twiggy (Aus) (Twig Moss {Fr}), whose descendants include the G1 Manawatu Sires' Produce S. winner Il Quello Veloce (NZ) (Captain Rio {GB}).
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