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Racing fans were left shaking their heads at Ellerslie on Saturday evening after witnessing exciting mare Levante take out the Group 2 Westbury Classic (1400m).
For those who had never seen the Proisir four-year-old in action before, they could have been forgiven for ripping up their betting tickets up at the 600m as the $1.40 favourite was dead last in the ten-horse field and struggling to catch the runners immediately ahead of her.
What happened next was succinctly summed up by Levante’s rider Sam Collett when she admitted later that ‘there are good horses and then there are horses like her’.
Punters post-race: Saturday racing in review, January 23 by James Lamb, Luke Sheehan & David Hocking Artorius dominated his rivals at Sandown Image: Getty
A Freedman-trained 2YO stole the show at Sandown, a Kiwi star enhanced her reputation even further, and we saw an all-time sick beat in Sydney. Star Performer
Levante in the Westbury Classic (Ellerslie R3)
Wins don t come much bigger than that of Levante s over the ditch at Ellerslie in the G2 Westbury Classic. The Ken Kelso-trained daughter of Proisir looked like she was in all sorts of bother at the 600m mark when dead-last in the 10-horse field, with plenty of lengths to make up and seemingly having hit a flat spot. But Collett then swung her out to the middle of the track upon straightening and asked Levante for the ultimate effort. It took a bit of riding to get her going but once she hit top gear the star Kiwi mare launched out of the ground to sweep past her rivals and score a surprisingly soft win
Racing: Gambles pay off for Aegon in $1 million Karaka Classic Mile
23 Jan, 2021 11:00 AM
3 minutes to read
Aegon (inner) gets the best of Amarelinha to win the $1m Karaka Million 3YO Classic at Ellerslie. Photo / Kirstin Ledington
NZ Herald
By: Michael Guerin
Two different Aegon gambles paid off to the tune of $530,000 at Ellerslie on Saturday night.
The 2000 Guineas winner remained unbeaten when he held out Amarelinha in the $1 million Karaka Classic Mile, two outstanding three-year-olds going to the line all but locked together at the end of a stirring 1600m.
But in winning Aegon not only set up an almost certain Australian campaign but paid back the faith and patience of trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman.
Racing: Levante set for big night at Karaka Million
3 Jan, 2021 09:00 AM
3 minutes to read
By: Michael Guerin
New Zealand s most exciting emerging race mare Levante will bypass the Telegraph at Trentham to add more glamour to Karaka Million night at Ellerslie. That sets up a potential clash with the country s most improved race mare in Showoroses.
The 4-year-olds provided some of the fireworks at Ellerslie s huge New Year s Day meeting, with Showoroses leading all the way in the $100,000 Rich Hill Mile, while Levante roared home from last for a stunning third in the Railway.
Co-trainer Ken Kelso confirmed Levante won t be heading south for the Telegraph.