Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)
Exciting filly Liguria (Snitzel) opened her winning account in fine style with a courageous victory at stakes level when she claimed the Gr.3 Colin Jillings 2YO Classic (1200m) at Ellerslie.
The impeccably bred daughter of Snitzel didn’t disgrace herself when finishing fourth on debut at the venue on Boxing Day and that experience stood her in good stead for Saturday’s juvenile feature that carries the name of the late New Zealand training legend Colin Jillings.
Bearing the colours of Cambridge Stud principals Brendan and Jo Linday, who bred and race the filly, Liguria jumped nicely from barrier four with rider Warren Kennedy immediately slotting her in the trail behind pacemakers Parfait Dimanche and race favourite Harvey Wallbanger.
That pair set up a steady clip and looked to have the rest of the field in trouble rounding the home bend, with Harvey Wallbanger immediately assuming control with 300m to run.
Kennedy had Liguria winding up nicely on the heels of the favourite and he looked vulnerable to a late attack as the filly hit overdrive to speed past him in the shadows of the post and claim a decisive short neck victory.
Trainer Lance Noble admitted he was showing his age a little as he recalled training Vernazza, the dam of Liguria, who took out the 2020 edition of the Gr.2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) before finishing second in the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) during her juvenile season.
“She is bred to be good being the first foal out of a mare I trained, Vernazza, who won the Matamata Breeders’ (Stakes),” Noble said.
“It certainly ages you a little bit when you are training the daughters and granddaughters.
“She is not very big but is supremely athletic and has that will to win. There is not much of her so we will have to nurse her along.
“She does have a great attitude, a real sweetie, and is very popular around the stable.
“We came here with a little bit of confidence after her first up run and she is only going to get better.
“I’m just thrilled for everybody at the Farm (Cambridge Stud) which keeps the roll going for them after a wonderful yearling sale.“
Liguria will now attempt to emulate her dam by winning the Matamata Breeders’ Stakes, which will be run on 14 February.
The victory caps off an extraordinary week for Cambridge Stud who claimed the leading vendor title and offered the sale-topping yearling, a colt by resident stallion Sword Of State that sold for $1.1 million, at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale at Karaka.
