Levante back to her best with double up in Telegraph battle
Champion sprinting mare Levante made it back-to-back triumphs in the $350,000 Berkett Telegraph (1200m), after another titanic struggle in the home straight yesterday.
Last year it was subsequent dual Australian Group One winner Roch ‘N’ Horse that went within a nose of victory against the Ken and Bev Kelso-trained daughter of Proisir, while this year it was last-start Railway (1200m) runner-up Babylon Berlin who went to war with her in the closing stages.
Levante burst into the clear wide out for rider Ryan Elliot and launched her sprint which quickly took her up to the leader.
The pair went head-to-head for the final 250m with Levante gaining the upper hand in the last few strides to take the victory by a neck, with outsider Iffndoubtgetout taking a meritorious third a further five lengths back.
An emotional Ken Kelso paid tribute to his charge along with his wife Bev, who has been battling ill health of late, but managed to make the long trip to Trentham from their Matamata home.
‘‘She is a very tough mare who doesn’t lay down and tries her hardest every time,’’ Kelso said.
‘‘She wants to give you a heart attack every year but she is just so tough.
‘‘It’s very special that Bev came as she hasn’t been that well, so to make the trip down here is very special.’’
Bev Kelso was in awe of the strength of the 5-year-old, who has now won at the elite level on three occasions.
‘‘That was just huge as every time she goes out, she is just such a trier,’’ she said.
‘‘She never goes a bad race and she sure does make it exciting.’’
■ Progressive galloper Ladies Man cemented his claims to start favourite in the Wellington Cup (3200m) in a fortnight with a solid staying effort to take out the Trentham Stakes (2100m).
The Allan Sharrock-trained 5-year-old turned the tables on his last-start conqueror Sagunto, when he ran down the tearaway pacemaker in the shadows of the Trentham winning post after Sagunto had looked like he would lead all the way.
Sharrock went within a neck of producing the quinella in the event after last year’s winner Waisake turned his form upside down to take third.
‘‘I’m not 100% with him yet, but he’s in the cup and he is a big chance to win it as he is the favourite,’’ Sharrock said. ‘‘I think I can improve the horse . . .’’