Race experience proved invaluable for the rangy Snitzel filly Declichy Boulevard, who opened her winning account in the Kia Ora Prague Maiden Hcp (1100m) on a heavy track at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
Ridden by Tommy Berry for Chris Waller, Declichy Boulevard was caught three and four wide the trip but was brave in running down the pacesetting I Am Invincible debutant Poisedby a half-length, with Godolphin’s Brazen Beau filly finishing strongly for third.
One of four runners in the race for the leading trainer, Declichy Boulevard had one start for Simon Zahra in Victoria in January before transferring to Chris Waller, for whom she finished second at Gosford on May 16.
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Chris Waller said the winner would be spelled and brought back for the spring with the knowledge that she handles heavy tracks.
“You can get soft to heavy tracks in the spring, so we will spell and see where she ends up in the spring. Hopefully, getting out to a mile, she will get to better races,” Waller said.
Carrying the colours of Kevin and Vikki Payne, the 2-year-old daughter of Snitzel, was a $380,000 purchase for Waltrin Pty Ltd / Cameron Cooke Bloodstock from the draft of her breeder, Kulani Park, at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Pleasingly for the sponsor of the race, Declichy Boulevard is closely related to the Kia Ora Stud stallion Prague (Redoute’s Choice).
Her winning dam Red Velvet Swing (Star Witness) is a sister to Group III-placed Serenade, half-sister to dual Group 1 winner Stratum Star (Stratum) and twice Group III winner and Group 1 ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes runner-up Prague.
A half-sister to the talented Redzoust (Zoustar), Declichy Boulevard is the second winner from as many to race for Red Velvet Swing, whose brother to Declichy Boulevard sold to TFI/Kia Ora Joint Venture for $575,000 at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Red Velvet Swing was covered by Capitalist last spring, having missed in 2022.
With his 12th 2-year-old winner of the season in Australia, Snitzel joins Written Tycoon at the head of the table.
