Encosta de Lago filly Costa Viva bagged the first-leg of an international double for her sire in the G1 NZ 1000 Guineas (1600m) on Saturday.
Six hours later in Perth, the Coolmore Stud champion struck at Group 3 level with Miss Rose De Lago in the WA Champion Fillies Stakes (1600m) at Ascot.
Costa Viva (3f Encosta de Lago – Vivacious Spirit by Bel Esprit) arrived with a perfectly timed run under Leith Innes to win by three-quarters of a length at Riccarton. “This filly has done absolutely nothing wrong,” trainer Jason Bridgman said. “She didn’t get broken in until she was a winter two-year-old.
“She’s a terrific filly in the making and the logical focus is the NZB Filly of the Year series so we will be following that path.”
Bred at Tarcoola Stud in Victoria by Ken Williams and Ken Biggins, Costa Viva was purchased by Te Akau Racing owner David Ellis at the 2012 Magic Millions National Sale for $100,000.
Tarcoola Stud will present a Flying Spur half brother to Costa Viva at January’s Magic Millions as Lot 166. “He’s an outstanding colt,” Magic Millions Victorian representative Tim Brown said. “He’s a cracking type and is sure to have plenty of admirers on the Gold Coast.”
Williams and Biggins raced her dam Vivacious Spirit to a Group 3 victory in the 2008 How Now Stakes at Caulfield.
Based on the Mornington Peninsula, Tarcoola Stud was named Victorian 2011 Small Breeder of the Year thanks to G1 Doncaster Mile winner Sacred Choice (Choisir).
Perth filly Miss Rose De Lago was taken straight to the lead by Peter Knuckey in the Champion Fillies and couldn’t be caught in the straight.
Miss Rose De Lago (3f Encosta de Lago – Crimson Dawn by Fasliyev) started an odds-on favourite following an impressive last-start victory in the LR Belgravia Stakes on November 2. She is trained by Simon Miller and cost owners Barry and Jan McRostie $210,000 at the Gold Coast Magic Millions.
She has a 2yo sister named Red Sun Rising with David Hayes and their dam has foaled colts by High Chaparral for the last two years.
Encosta de Lago has sired 97 stakes-winners, 20 of them at Group 1 level, and he stands at Coolmore Stud for a $55,000 (inc gst) fee.