Two from Two Day for Elsdon Park
Elsdon Park’s racing colors have enjoyed a perfect two runners for two winners today, with two-year-olds Aprilia and Ravello celebrating juvenile success on both sides of the Tasman.
The Andrew Forsman-trained Aprilia (US Navy Flay – Miss Avalon) set the ball rolling at Matamata, winning with half a length up her sleeve under Kozzi Asano.
The 1200m victory came at her second start, with an earlier third placing being struck on debut on Cambridge’s synthetic track in February.
“We expected her to be hard to beat on debut, so we were scratching our heads a little bit that day,” reflected Forsman.
“We gave her a trip away to Avondale for a trial afterwards, and that seemed to have switched her on. It’s good to see her go out there today and show the ability that we had seen from her at home,”
Bred by Kevin Hickman ONZM, Aprilia was purchased by Bruce Perry from Valachi Down’s Unreserved Young Stock Sale on Gavelhouse.
Aprilia, who is co-owned with Max Brown, will now target the Gr.1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes at Awapuni on the 1st of April.
Elsdon Park’s second two-year-old winner Ravello (Savabeel – Cover Charge) came less than an hour after Aprilia, with the exciting colt enjoying the best possible debut at Warwick Farm.
Trained by John O’Shea, Ravello was deemed a $21 shot in the market and after receiving a peach of a rails ride just behind the leader from Brenton Avdulla, pulling out in the straight to have the race at his mercy with 100m to run.
At the line, the Savabeel colt – who is co-owned with Greg Clarke and Little Avondale Stud – had the measure of his nearest rival by a neck.
Bred by Max Whitby, Ravello was purchased by Bruce Perry from Cambridge Stud’s 2022 NZB Book One yearling draft.
Happily, Elsdon Park’s office administrator Sarah Scott sealed some serious bragging rights with the win, astutely outlaying $100 on the nose for the team’s betting syndicate.
Excitingly, Ravello is nominated for the Gr.1 Inglis Sires’ (1400m) at Royal Randwick on April 1st.
This sets up a possible three Gr.1 chances for Elsdon Park on April 1st, as in addition to Aprilia and Ravello’s assignments, the farm also has Andalus (Almanzor – Genius) stepping out for trainer Stephen Marsh in the Gr.1 Australian Derby at Royal Randwick.
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