Orovela (NZ) has posted the first black-type victory for her sire Saperavi in the NZB Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) at Riccarton.

Saperavi (Stravinsky) is a half-brother of Darci Brahma and stands at Willow Glen Stud in Canterbury.

Orovela (3f Saperavi – Kims Coup by Kashani) was racing first-up after winning her maiden on debut at Oamaru in July.  Settled midfield, she stayed nearer to the fence under Ashley Frye while many of her rivals spread wide on a damp day in Christchurch on Saturday.

The Canterbury Belle Stakes was the first leg of the New Zealand Bloodstock Southern Filly of the Year Series.   The Ashburton based filly kicked clear in the straight to score by three-quarters of a length from Dreamer (More Than Ready) and Silhouette Noire (Dane Shadow).

Orovela cost a mere $1,200 as a foal from Scotsman Valley (as agent) at the 2011 NZB’s National Weanling Sale at Karaka.  She is raced by Ray Coupland in partnership with trainers Daniel Champion and Kezia Murphy.

“Her biggest asset is her strength and constitution, stable life doesn’t worry her one bit,” Champion said.  “I trained her sister Hamilton Coup for Ray.  She had a huge amount of potential but was a bit cantankerous.

“I was up at the Karaka Sales when Orovela came through and she was a nice strong type so we bought her.”

Orovela is a daughter of talented South Island filly Kims Coup who won the LR Warstep Stakes at Riccarton in 2004.

Saperavi (NZ) won an Ashburton maiden and was stakes placed at Riccarton but a serious leg infection cut his career to just four starts.  Both he and Darci Brahma are out of G1 Australasian Oaks winner Grand Echezeaux (Zabeel).

Willow Glen Stud owners Mike and Barbara Cooney stand him for a $3,000 (plus gst) fee alongside Sunray (Zabeel) and Minstrel Court (Danehill Dancer).

View the current leader-board and race schedule for NZ Bloodstock’s Southern Filly of the Year Series at:    http://nzb.co.nz/info/southern_filly.cfm