Avisto (NZ) led home a back-type quinella for Cambridge Stud freshman Tavistock in the LR  Great Northern Foal Stakes (1400m) at Ellerslie on Saturday.

Showing the steely side of her nature, the John Sargent trained filly scored a brave win at the expense of Midnitemagicman (NZ).

Tavistock has now left three two year-old winners with the promising Longchamp and likely Listed Castletown Stakes contender Amber Rayne among his prior successes.

Avisto is raced by Adrian Clark’s Challenge Syndications.  “There are 50 members in her syndicate,” Clark said.  “This filly has taken a lot of time to come right mentally but she’s a very exciting three-year-old prospect.”

Avisto cleared the gates smartly to race outside the leader for rider Noel Harris and then saw off the challenge of the well-supported Shees Flawless (Fully Fledged).  “I was a bit concerned early when she got a bit keen and I kept three or four off the fence and she came back to me,” Harris said.  “They were trying conditions and she really dug deep.”

Midnitemagicman came on well for second ahead of Martiniz Special (Postponed).

Tavistock (Montjeu) was a Group 1 winner of the Waikato Sprint and Mudgway Stakes and has covered big books in all four seasons at Cambridge Stud.