The baldy face of Caffe Florian was the widest of all runners turning for home in the $200,000 Listed Gosford Guineas (1200m) on Sunday as the Richard Litt trained filly attempted to loop the field, a risky move on a lesser horse, but a winning one for this rising star.
Lining up for her fourth race start following a debut third and then two facile wins at Canterbury, Caffe Florian was again ridden by Jason Collett.
Taking on a handy field including seasoned stakes class filly Memo, Caffe Florian was top pick for punters and proved well up to the task. She powered home to win by half a length over the Godolphin owned runner Mareth with Memo in third place.
“She did it pretty easy and the pace was good early,” said Jason Collett, who has yet to taste defeat on the filly with three rides producing three wins.
“She wouldn’t want any further at present as she’s still learning what it’s all about. I made a bit of an early move to put her into the race when the pace started to come off before the turn and it was a soft win in the end.”
A $400,000 Inglis Easter purchase for Galletta Constructions Co. Pty Ltd from the Arrowfield Stud draft, Caffe Florian runs for Ottavio and Wendy Galletta, who have enjoyed G1 success in the past with Litt trained colts Castlevecchio and Profondo.
“She’s a super filly and what she’s done this preparation is pretty amazing, so we’re very happy,” said Richard Litt.
“Jason rode her beautiful and just nursed her around the corner. I just think there is so much more improvement in her and she can go to the paddock now, so we can look after her a little bit and she will come back a much better horse.
“I’m so happy for Ottavio and Wendy, who have invested so much money in my stable and to be rewarded with this lovely filly will be so pleasing for them.”
A winner of over $217,000 from her first four starts, Caffe Florian also comes with a big pedigree as a three-quarter sister to Group III winner Anders and stakes-winner Ostraka, while stakes-placed Battleground and Satin Love are her full siblings.
She is now the third stakes-winner among six winners from seven foals to race from unraced War Emblem mare Madame Andree, who is also the grand-dam of Group winning colt Skyhook.
Caffe Florian is the 165th stakes-winner for champion sire Snitzel, who sadly died earlier this year. He featured prominently in the fourth part of our recent series on legendary sire Snippets (who is the sire of his dam), click here to read.
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