Champion sire Savabeel is having a day out at Randwick producing two early winners in Kiss the Bride and High Supremacy before quality mare Atishu confirmed her claims for the upcoming Group I ATC Epsom Handicap when taking out the Group III ATC Bill Ritchie Quality (1400m).
Transferred from New Zealand into the care of Chris Waller after a fruitful three year-old season that netted a pair of stakes wins for her previous trainer Steven Marsh, Atishu won at Randwick first up in Australia and was then a close fourth in a Benchmark 94 event.
Ridden closer to the pace in the Bill Ritchie, she hit the line hard for Tim Clark to score a half neck win, her sixth from 12 starts with prizemoney in excess of $236,000.
“I like the way she fought all the way to the line,” said Chris Waller.
“She’ll be well placed in the Epsom with a light weight and the tough Randwick mile.”
Bred by Waikato Stud, Atishu was a $260,000 Karaka Book 1 purchase for Go Racing and is the best of two winners from Posy, a winning full sister to Champion NZ 3YO Filly and triple Group I winner Daffodil, the family also featuring another current Group I performer in Aegon.
