An impressive debut winner at a recent midweek metro meeting, talented Russian Revolution colt Libertad took the quantum leap straight into stakes company producing a tenacious effort to outpoint quality filly Saltaire to win the $200,000 Group III ATC Kindergarten Stakes (1100m).
Trained by Annabel Neasham and ridden by Chad Schofield, Libertad enjoyed a cosy run on the fence and worked to the lead after turning for home, but was headed by Saltaire, who looked certain to win until the colt dug in and fought back.
Libertad was resolute to the line for Schofield and snatched a narrow win over the filly with race favourite Barber in third place.
“I was concerned about the track after he won on debut on a good track, but he handled it really well and jumped nicely and took a prominent position,” said Schofield.
“The second filly put a margin on us, but to my bloke’s credit he came through his gears nicely and was strong late.”
Annabel Neasham was full of praise for Libertad, who was on a 10 day back up from his first win.
“It’s not something I normally do, I like to give them a bit longer at the beginning of their preps, but it was just the way the calendar fell, so we thought we’d roll the dice as he’s a really smart colt,” Neasham said.
“We’ll just see how he pulls up before making any decisions on whether we go to Brisbane or whether we put him away and bring him back as a three year-old.
“I’ll chat to Trilogy and the rest of the connections, it’s a big thrill to win a stakes race with a colt in their colours and it’s a pretty good honour roll in this race, so I think he’s got a very bright future.”
Libertad was a $210,000 Inglis Ready 2 Race purchase for Annabel Neasham Racing Pty Ltd from the Nolen Racing draft and was a successful pinhook having been sourced from Inglis Classic for $40,000 from the Rheinwood Pastoral draft.
Bred by Rheinwood in partnership, Libertad is the third winner from Electric Charge, a winning half-sister by Charge Forward to Group III winner Miss Darcey from stakes-winner Miss Bussell.
Electric Charge had a colt by Prague last spring and is now back in foal to the young Kia Ora stallion.
Libertad is the seventh stakes-winner for Russian Revolution and is his sixth this season.
Russian Revolution is the leading second season sire by winners, earnings and stakes-winners and has five entries for Inglis Easter.
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