Mapperley Stud celebrated the first stakes winner by the late Atlante when Riva Capri won the Listed The O’Learys Fillies Stakes at Wanganui. The victory on Saturday raised mixed emotions for Stud Master Simms Davison after the passing of Atlante back in 2016.
“I am thrilled to see Atlante sire his first stakes winner, he was such a beautiful horse. We were absolutely devastated when we lost him” said Davison
“We were always confident his offspring would run, he left really nice types with plenty of strength and good bone, and for him to get his first stakes winner so early is fantastic and well-deserved”
Atlante himself exploded onto the scene as a spring 3year-old when he went from a maiden winner to a Gr.1 2000 Guineas winner in a space of 4 weeks. “His win in the 2000 Guineas was special, he beat a quality field that day and he won with real authority”
It was great to see Riva Capri follow in her father’s footsteps, winning a stakes race as an early 3 year-old. What made the moment even more special is that Riva Capri donned the same racing colours as Atlante, the famous racing silks of well-known owner Lib Petagna.
“I am very happy for Lib. He raced Atlante, won big races with him and was a big supporter of him at stud. It is only fitting for him to get Atlante’s first stakes winner"
Riva Capri is only lightly raced and has a promising future ahead of her. She was impressive on debut when finishing a fast second behind another talented Atlante – Callsign Mav. Stepping up to stakes class in her second career start; she put herself into the race early on and was strong through the line over the 1200m event.
Riva Capri is out of the stakes-winning mare Chaparella (High Chaparral), she is a half-sister to the stakes-placed Style By Design. Trainers Guy Lowry & Grant Cullen have held the filly in high regard and they have some lofty ambitions ahead for her in the spring.
Atlante passed away halfway through his second breeding season, his last crop are now 2 year-olds. The last of his progeny will be presented at the NZB Ready to Run Sale this year and there is some real excitement building up around him as a sire.
"His offspring have been doing a great job on the track, we have sold a couple of nice colts for good money following impressive trial wins and now to see them winning stakes races is really exciting" Davison said.
" We have purposely held onto a number of nice horses aiming them at the Ready to Run Sale. Cody Cole is doing an awesome job with them and they are coming up fantastically. They are absolute belters and if they breeze up as good as last year, we should get some really good results"
