Francaletta
Trish Dunell
Unbeaten mare Francaletta has continued the golden run on both sides of the Tasman being enjoyed by her Wellington-based owner Lib Petagna.
The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-prepared mare was a runaway debut winner at Matamata and she was again untested to take top honours in Saturday's Hastings – Heart of Hawke's Bay 1300.
"Let's hope it keeps going for a little while longer yet," Petagna's racing manager Bruce Perry said.
"She's very good and Murray and Andrew have always had a lot of time for her. She's very well bred and we didn't have to pay a lot for her so hopefully she can get some black type."
The Trelawney Stud graduate was a $A65,000 purchase and the daughter of High Chaparral is a stablemate of two other recent winners in the Petagna colours - Saracino, who was successful in the Gr.2 Danehill Stakes at Flemington a week ago, and the Gr.1 VRC Oaks contender Eleonora, who bolted in at Geelong on Friday.
Petagna will also be represented at the Melbourne spring carnival by the Group One-winning mares Lucia Valentina and Sofia Rosa.
On Saturday, Francaletta jumped quickly to race on the pace and she was far too good when asked for an effort in the straight.
"She's a quality mare and we found a soft sit in second," rider Michael Coleman said. "When I popped her the question she found a length quickly."
Co-trainer Forsman said they had expected Francaletta to be hard to beat again with the improved going in her favour after she had to overcome a heavily rain-affected track first time out.
"It was pretty testing at Matamata and she's better off on good ground, we think she's pretty good."
The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-prepared mare was a runaway debut winner at Matamata and she was again untested to take top honours in Saturday's Hastings – Heart of Hawke's Bay 1300.
"Let's hope it keeps going for a little while longer yet," Petagna's racing manager Bruce Perry said.
"She's very good and Murray and Andrew have always had a lot of time for her. She's very well bred and we didn't have to pay a lot for her so hopefully she can get some black type."
The Trelawney Stud graduate was a $A65,000 purchase and the daughter of High Chaparral is a stablemate of two other recent winners in the Petagna colours - Saracino, who was successful in the Gr.2 Danehill Stakes at Flemington a week ago, and the Gr.1 VRC Oaks contender Eleonora, who bolted in at Geelong on Friday.
Petagna will also be represented at the Melbourne spring carnival by the Group One-winning mares Lucia Valentina and Sofia Rosa.
On Saturday, Francaletta jumped quickly to race on the pace and she was far too good when asked for an effort in the straight.
"She's a quality mare and we found a soft sit in second," rider Michael Coleman said. "When I popped her the question she found a length quickly."
Co-trainer Forsman said they had expected Francaletta to be hard to beat again with the improved going in her favour after she had to overcome a heavily rain-affected track first time out.
"It was pretty testing at Matamata and she's better off on good ground, we think she's pretty good."
