Taranaki trainer Robbie Patterson is confident bargain buy Uraskyfullastars is a black-type filly of the future.
On Saturday, he produced the daughter of Westbury Stud stallion Tarzino for an impressive victory over 1400 metres at Awapuni for the second win of her fledgling career.
“She should be unbeaten and be three from three really, she was an unlucky third at her first start. She’ll be a stakes horse as long as everything continues to go well,” Patterson said.
“She’s better on top of the ground too, she’s not a wet tracker and it’s just her ability that gets her there.
“I think she’s the real deal and being by Tarzino she’ll get over ground eventually, she’s a very relaxed horse.”
Tarzino was also represented at Awapuni by his progressive staying son Crouch, who posted his third victory from five appearances when he outstayed his Rating 75 rivals over 2100 metres.
Trained by Mike Breslin and ridden by Tina Comignaghi, the four-year-old raced in fifth spot before running to the front before the turn and he defied allcomers in the run to the post.
By contrast, Uraskyfullastars drifted well off pace and rider Craig Grylls was hard at work on the three-year-old across the top.
“Craig said she wasn’t handling the ground and was going nowhere 600 metres from home,” Patterson said.
“Once he got her out into the better ground she really found her feet and she’s a very exciting horse.”
Uraskyfullastars finished strongly wide out to put away a competitive age group line-up over 1400 metres.
“We’ll probably run her at New Plymouth in a couple of weeks. There is a special conditions maiden there and (apprentice) Ciel Butler will go back on to drop her weight down and she’ll be very competitive again on her home track,” Patterson said.
“I would like to think we could get to a Group 3 Cuddle Stakes in the autumn. She is only a baby and is still maturing, so we will just go through the grades and give her a bit of time, which she needs.”
The Lisa Dunbar-bred Uraskyfullastars is a daughter of the Bachelor Duke mare Emerged, who is a sister to the two-time Group 1 Captain Cook Stakes winner Shuka and the third dam Alabama Whirly won an edition of the Karrakatta Plate when it carried elite level status.
Despite her pedigree, the filly was a bargain buy for the Lethbridge family who secured her for a meagre $700 out of the Gavelhouse April Online Auction in 2021.
“They have been offered good money for her, but it never turned up which was good for me and unlucky for the owners but I’m sure it will be lucky for them in the long run,” Patterson said.
Meanwhile, Westbury Stud graduate Shez Super lived up to her name with a gallant effort to account for her Rating 65 opposition over 1550 metres.
Prepared by part-owner Gavin Sharrock, the daughter of Iffraaj doubled her winning tally when she finished determinedly in the run home to grab victory in the shadows of the post.
Shez Super was bred by Gerry Harvey and is the first winner for the New Zealand-bred Bel Danoro mare Supercede who is in foal to Telperion.
Supercede was successful three times and is from the family of the Group 1 Galaxy Handicap winner and sire Charge Forward and the multiple Group 2 winner Kidman’s Cove.