Kia Ora Stud’s Golden Slipper winner Farnan has made a great start to his stud career and posted his second stakes-winner when progressive filly Recuperato pounced on her rivals to win the Group III VRC Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on Saturday running away.
Trained by Peter Gelagotis and ridden by Ben Melham, Recuperato was fifth on debut in a Listed race in Adelaide won by Gin Spirit in February before a close third at Sandown earlier this month.
Taking benefit from each start so far, Recuperato settled off the pace and let down with a big finish to charge home and win by more than a length over Prestige Snitzel, who runs for the same connections as the previous race winner Prestige Ole.
“She's a lovely little filly. I actually trialled her before she had her first start in Adelaide and I quite liked her. She's not overly big, but she makes up for that in heart,” said Ben Melham.
"She had a good run throughout, a nice bit of cover, I just presented her late and she let down really well.
"She's got a lovely nature and that takes them a long way."
A $210,000 Magic Millions purchase from the Kenmore Lodge draft for Toking/Stephen Gray Racing/Wattle Bloodstock, Recuperato was originally going to be re-offered as a ready to run horse, but that plan changed with happy results.
“It means a lot, the people that are in this horse are very staunch and long-serving clients that jumped in on our recommendation,” said an elated Peter Gelagotis.
"We spec'd this filly and carried the burden all the way through until we got her trialled up and for the guys to come on board it means a lot to me their faith in us, myself and Manny and the team.
"We're a family, tight-knit operation, we value our staff and their efforts, our riders, particularly Tianni Chapman and Ray Vella, they do a lot of work to get these horses to where they're at.
"The key for me is to keep them sound and healthy and well and get some longevity and to be able to come to these days and compete and to get a result is the icing on the cake for me."
Recuperato was bred by Kenmore Lodge’s Kellie Bond and is the best of three winners from three foals to race from placed Encosta de Lago mare Afiado, a daughter of Group II winner Sharp and sister to Group II placed In the Vanguard, the dam of Group I winner and Champion NZ 2YO Sword of State.
Afiado produced another filly by Farnan last year and appears to be in foal to Tassort.
Recuperato is the seventh winner and second stakes-winner by Farnan, who has 11 entries for Inglis Easter.
