Levante finally breaks through for G1 victory

WELLINGTON: Highclass mare Levante broke through for a deserved group 1 victory in a heartstopping finish to Saturday’s Telegraph at Trentham.

The 5yrold daughter of Proisir went into the sprint as an eightrace winner from 13 starts, but a group 1 victory had eluded the Ken and Bev Kelsotrained mare, who had previously finished second, third, fourth and fifth at the elite level.

She was a laststart second to Entriviere in the Railway Stakes on New Year’s Day.

Entriviere started a clear $1.60 favourite, but this time Levante turned the tables.

Ridden by Ryan Elliot, Levante was a world away from her old habit of tardiness at the start. She broke sharply from gate 5 and settled on the heels of the frontrunning Ocean Point and Tavi Mac.

Levante went for gold at the top of the straight, and with Entriviere getting no closer than fifth after being last to straighten for home, it began to look like this might be Levante’s day.

But another Matamata mare had other ideas. Roch ‘N’ Horse burst out of the pack and drew up alongside Levante, the lead changing with every stride through the last 50m.

There were more than two lengths back to the thirdplaced Mascarpone.

After an anxious wait, there was a roar from the Trentham crowd as Levante was declared the winner.

The headturning time for the 1200m of 1min 06.18sec is being claimed by the Wellington Racing Club as an unofficial world record.

‘‘That wasn’t too good for the heart,’’ Ken Kelso said.

‘‘But this is a huge result. She’s a wonderful mare with such a great temperament and will to win. She’s an absolute dream to train.’’ — NZ Racing Desk