Godolphin had a very profitable day at Newcastle on Saturday with the Medaglia d’Oro (USA) filly Asiago opening her stakes account in the Group III NZ Bloodstock NJC Spring Stakes (1600m) moments before Savatiano carried the royal blue to victory in the inaugural running of the $1 million Pages Event Hire The Hunter (1300m).
Asiago had won three on the trot at Kembla Grange, Newcastle and Hawkesbury encouraging connections to take a shot at the Group II Fillies Classic at Moonee Valley at her most recent start.
She could do no better than eighth there but she rose to the occasion at Newcastle on Saturday.
With Rachel King in the saddle, the daughter of Medaglia d’Oro (USA) came from worse than midfield to defeat the fast-finishing Game Of Thorns (Animal Kingdom) by a half-neck with Donandkim (Smart Missile) another half-length back in third.
"She came back and relaxed really well just off the leader," King told AAP.
"It gave a really good kick from the 600 but she wasn't going to let it get away and she was really strong late.
"She just keeps getting better every run and stepping up to the mark."
Assistant trainer Darren Beadman praised King for her ride.
"At her last start we had a throw at the stumps over the mile at the night meeting," Beadman said.
"But she went too hard in front and just gassed herself out.
"Rachel controlled the race (today), she took all the guesswork out of it when she followed the favourite across.
"She has some black type to her name now which is perfect.
"This is normally a colts-type of race and this will set her up for something nice over the autumn carnival”
Asiago is the third winner and first stakes-winner out of the very talented Disputes (Manton) who won the Listed ATC Reginald Allen Hcp and placed in the Listed AJC Gimcrack Stakes.
A half-sister to Group III MRC Thousand Guineas Prelude winner and Group 1 AJC Champagne Stakes third Divorces (Domesday) and the stakes-placed Dissolution (Snitzel), Disputes has a yearling filly by Iffraaj (GB) and foaled another filly by the same stallion on October 1.
Asiago becomes the 136th stakes-winner for the former Darley shuttler Medaglia d’Oro (USA).
Hopes of Savatiano winning the $1 million The Hunter nosedived when she drew barrier 18 but she received a pearler from James McDonald to defeat Tactical Advantage (Bel Esprit) by a length and a half with Bon Amis (Bon Hoffa) three-quarter of a length back in third in track record time.
A 5yo daughter of Street Cry (IRE), Savatiano advances her record to 8 wins, 8 seconds and 3 thirds from 27 starts with earnings of $1,420,810.
The winner of the Group II Tyristarc Stakes, Group III BRC Glenlogan Park Stakes and Listed WyongRC Mona Lisa Stakes, Savatiano also owns a Group 1 placing in the Tatt's RC Tattersall's Tiara.
She is a half-sister to the stakes-placed Lonhro filly Athiri who placed in the Group II Blue Diamond Prelude, Group III Magic Night Stakes and Group III Kindergarten Stakes.
They are out of the Redoute’s Choice mare Retsina who has a yearling colt by Hallowed Crown and foaled a Lonhro colt on October 21.
