Debutante two-year-old Altari (NZ) (Savabeel) produced a smart victory in the Congrats Captured By Love & Te Akau Racing Maiden 2YO (1200m) at Matamata on Thursday.
When trialling on 20 February at Tauranga, Altari was trapped out, steadied 600m, ranged wide and flattened out 200m for a smart win, and his first race day outing was not dissimilar.
Away well from barrier eight, Altari was caught on a limb three wide under Opie Bosson, challenged turning for home, lifted to level 200m out and went on win with an air of superiority.
“He’s a nice horse and even after being three wide in the open he kept coming up underneath me when I gave him a niggle,” Bosson said.
Held in very high regard by trainers Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson, Altari will now be prepared for the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) on Saturday 6 April at Trentham.
“It was a great first-up win today and he certainly didn’t get all favours in the run,” Walker said.
“I loved the way he changed legs at the 200m and really wanted to win. He found extra and that’s the sign of a good horse.
“He’s got a really exciting future and has the makings of developing into a lovely three-year-old.
“He’ll only improve with today’s experience and overall we’re pretty impressed with his performance. Not a lot went right, but as usual Opie (Bosson) keeps them balanced and the horse kept producing.”
Owned by Te Akau Bohemian Beauty Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Altari was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $360,000 at the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock National Weanling Sale, from the draft of Valachi Downs.
“He’s got a lovely temperament and has a good brain on him,” said racing manager Reece Trumper.
Trumper said Altari reminded them of Noverre, a Savabeel colt also purchased by Ellis at Karaka, before winning the 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) and now standing at Waikato Stud.
“His nature and the way he goes about everything reminds us of Noverre, just a slightly neater type.
“He was a beautiful weanling colt that David (Ellis) bought, has a beautiful pedigree, and by Savabeel, with David being the most successful buyer of Savabeel progeny, it’s exciting for the owners to see him win so well on debut.
“I’d also like to thank the Matamata Racing Club for taking on this meeting. Obviously we had a big day here last Saturday, and some rain since, but the track is still playing very fair.
“It’s a real credit to all the track staff here to produce the best track in New Zealand, in my opinion, and it takes the racing very well.”
By eight-time Champion Sire Savabeel, his dam Bohemian Lily (NZ) (O’Reilly) won the Gr.2 The Roses (2020m) at Doomben, while second dam, Bohemian Blues (NZ) (Blues Traveller), won five races and in turn at stud has left Champion 3YO Filly in Australia Shamrocker (NZ) (O’Reilly), winner of the Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m) and Gr.1 VRC Australian Guineas (1600m), Gr.1 Auckland Cup (3200m) winner Rock Diva (NZ) (Lucky Unicorn), and Gr.3 Taranaki Cup (1800m) winner Vernanme (NZ) (O’Reilly).
