12 Sep 2017
Lisa Latta completed a smart piece of business when she parted with $26,000 at Karaka last year to secure a daughter of Cambridge Stud stallion Burgundy.
Named Dijon Bleu, she was a debut winner last season for the Awapuni trainer and on Wednesday scored a hollow victory in the Listed The O’Leary’s Fillies’ Stakes (1200m) at Wanganui, a meeting rescheduled after heavy rain forced its abandonment last Saturday.
After five appearances, Dijon Bleu’s stake earnings are now closing in on $60,000 with the promise of significantly more to come.
“There’s a lot of options for her and the key will be whether she can get 1400m and further and then if we head south early,” said Latta, referring to the Gr.1 gavelhouse.com New Zealand 1000 Guineas at Riccarton in November.
Dijon Bleu raced in behind the leaders to the turn before rider Jonathan Riddell angled her into the clear and, once balanced, she strode clear in the closing 200m to distance Blanco Belle, who was green in the straight, and Style By Design.
“We decided to ride her a bit cold because there was a bit of speed in the race,” Latta said. “She got fired up early, but then she came back and really put paid to them in the straight.”
It was the three-year-old’s second appearance for the season following a solid run for third when resuming last month behind the highly-regarded Astor and the Group One performer Belle du Nord.
“The trip to Taupo has really made her,” Latta said. “She has really gone forward since then and I couldn’t be happier.”
Runner-up Blanco Belle's effort followed a smart debut win at Hawera and provided a stallion for Cambridge Stud stallions, with her sire Cape Blanco having stood at the Cambridge farm as well. – NZ Racing Desk