News

Villa Verde To Aim At Golden Slipper

6th Nov 2012

Undefeated two-year-old filly Villa Verde will be aimed at the $3.5 million Golden Slipper next April by her buyer and trainer Shaun Dwyer following a dominant performance in the opening event at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day, the Listed VRC 7News Plate (1000m).

Villa Verde ($95,000 2012 Premier, 2f Not A Single Doubt-Young And Free) showed considerable improvement from her Listed MRC Inglis Debutant Stakes win three weeks ago to score a dominant two and three-quarter length victory over Purrific and Thump today.

A $95,000 purchase by Dwyer from the draft of Kiah Glenn at the 2012 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale, Villa Verde (pictured) proved too slick for her rivals yet again, completing Tuesday’s 1000m dash down the famous straight in a slick 56.73seconds.

“It’s a long time since I’ve had a horse this good,” said Dwyer.

“She’ll go to the paddock. I’ll have a chat to Michael Rodd but we had a talk after the last race but not many horses go to the Blue Diamond and the Slipper and the one we want is the Golden Slipper so that’s where we will be going.”

Bred by Todd and Suzzanne Lichti, Villa Verde is raced by Mike Buys and Rob Willis, with today’s win taking her earnings to $160,000.

Jockey Michael Rodd has no doubt that the daughter of Not A Single Doubt can measure up in Dwyer’s major target for the filly, the Group 1 ATC Golden Slipper next April.

“She's very smart, really professional, does everything right and what you see is what you get with her, I don't know what more I can say. She gives you a bit when you want her to go,” said Rodd.

“I got to the front at the 300 and she just cantered away from them — I looked over and they were all starting to feel for theirs and I was going so easy I think they will be able to get her to a Golden Slipper.

“She has plenty of scope, and she shows the right professionalism to suggest that she will handle a 2yo preparation.”

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.

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 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale on March 3 to 6.