Leading jockey Mark du Plessis predicted a top-flight future for Viadana (NZ) after she scored a stylish win in the G3 Eagle Technology Stakes (1600m) at Ellerslie on Saturday.

“I’m very confident that she can win a Group 1 race,” du Plessis said after weighing in.  “That was very soft; she was in a relaxed rhythm and travelled beautifully.”

Viadana (4m Towkay – Yeah Nah by Kinjite) was a $25,000 buy for Matamata trainer Lance Noble from the Little Avondale Stud draft at the 2009 NZB Select yearling sale.  She had claimed a lead-up race on Melbourne Cup day and has now won 6 times in 15 starts for a syndicate managed by Noble’s wife Leigh.

“She’s an honest mare with tactical speed and then she can sprint again,” Noble said.  “She’s really matured and we’ve been patient with her.  There’s some nice miles coming up for her over Christmas and into the New Year.”

Viadana has a yearling sister by Little Avondale Stud sire Towkay.  Their dam Yeah Nah is a half-sister to G2 Waikato Gold Cup winner Singing Star (Danasinga).

Towkay is coming off a very successful NZB Ready to Run 2YO Sale where his three lots realised in excess of $360,000.  His stock are popular with Hong Kong owners and trainers and, overall, he has sired 181 individual winners of 565 races at a 59% strike-rate.

Little Avondale owner Sam Williams stands Towkay (Last Tycoon) for a $5,000 fee alongside Nadeem (Redoute’s Choice) and Per Incanto (Street Cry) at the Masterton stud farm.

VIADANA
Promising future for NZ based daughter of Towkay