Villa Verde drew comparisons with former star filly Regimental Gal after an impressive victory in the LR Debutants Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield on Wednesday.

Regimental Gal put trainer Shaun Dwyer on the map winning the 2003 Magic Millions 2YO Classic before graduating to G1 victories in the VRC Lightning Stakes and MVRC Australia Stakes.

Dwyer bought Villa Verde for $95,000 at the 2012 Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale and she returned $72,500 on debut for long-time clients Mike Buys and Rob Willis.  “I haven’t had a horse like her since ‘Reggie’ retired,” Dwyer said.  “She’s very good.”

Villa Verde (2f Not A Single Doubt – Young And Free by Kenmare) was a convincing winner over Exceed And Excel fillies Overreach and Kuroshio in a quick 57.23s.  She is the sixth winner for her dam and the best of them to date has been G3 placed NZ filly Miss Sharapova (Ustinov).

It’s a precocious pedigree through second dam Sushi Rocket (Salmon Leap) who was a stakes winning half-sister to G1 racehorse and sire Rory’s Jester.

Villa Verde is the 11th stakes winner for Arrowfield Stud sire Not A Single Doubt and Dwyer indicated she will push on to the LR Ottawa Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day.

The Debutants Stakes victory comes just four days after Regimental Pride’s debut win at Rosehill.  He is by More Than Ready and is the third winner from four to race out of Regimental Gal.

– Karl Patterson