News

Debutants Victor Compared To Group 1 Winner

17th Oct 2012

Villa Verde made an impressive debut in the Listed MRC Inglis Debutants Stakes in Melbourne on Wednesday, drawing comparisons with Regimental Gal by her trainer Shaun Dwyer.

A yearling sale purchase by Shaun Dwyer Villa Verde ($95,000 2012 Premier, 2f Not A Single Doubt-Young An Free) proved too slick for her rivals over the flying 1000m at Caulfield, dashing past Overreach and Kuroshio in the final furlong to record a 1.25 length win in 57.23 seconds.

“I haven’t had a horse like that since Reggie [Regimental Gal] probably,” Dwyer said after the impressive debut.

“She’s showed me a lot more than Reggie, but potential and performance, well, you know all about that. But she is very good.”

Bred by Suzzanne Lichti, Villa Verde (pictured) was purchased by Dwyer from the draft of Kiah Glenn at the 2012 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale for $95,000. The speedy filly is raced by Mike Buys and Rob Willis.

An 8th of November foal Villa Verde is the first stakes winner for her dam Young And Free, which has also produced Group 3 placed gallopers Miss Sharapova and Faulconbridge. Her female family also includes champion juvenile Rory’s Jester.

Connections are going to push on to the Listed VRC Ottawa Stakes over 1000m at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day with Villa Verde before they look to aim higher, possibly at Group 1 level like Regimental Gal which won the VRC Lightning Stakes and MVRC Australia Stakes during her career.

Villa Verde is the 11th stakes winner for Arrowfield Stud’s consistent sire Not A Single Doubt, which is set to have another strong bunch of yearlings at next year’s Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale on March 4 to 7.