Kiwi import Talenti (NZ) (Niagara) showed his quality when coming from last at Moonee Valley on Friday night to score by one and three-quarter lengths in the Summer Membership Handicap (1500m).
The four-year-old son of Niagara recently transferred to Caulfield trainer Robert Hickmott from Hawke’s Bay conditioners Guy Lowry and Grant Cullen, having finished fourth at Awapuni just under two weeks ago.
Adelaide-based rider Barend Vorster was making his first visit to Moonee Valley and Talenti gave him his first winner at the unique circuit.
Raced by his breeder Trish Dunell, Talenti won a maiden in May at Hastings before getting back and running on well for a pair of fourths at his two following outings in New Zealand before the decision was made to target greater prizemoney across the Tasman.
“My younger brother Michael is great friends with Trish Dunell over in New Zealand and I have got to know her quite well over the past few years,” Hickmott said.
“She had a very high opinion of the horse and he had run into a couple of wet tracks and he is a better on top of the ground horse, so she sent him over here.
“Guy Lowry and Grant Cullen have done a terrific job with the horse. They sent him over here in terrific order and he presented well when he got off the plane.
“I don’t know how long I will have the horse, as Hong Kong could beckon, but he has done a great job and it was a pretty good ride by Barend as well.”
South African rider Vorster, who is making the most of his chances since relocating to Australia, was impressed by the lightly-tried gelding which was sent out a $3.10 favourite.
“It is my first ride here at the Valley, but it is a beautiful track and I enjoyed that,” Vorster said.
“They were quite confident with this horse and just sitting on him in the ring before the race, he felt like a quality horse.
“At the 400m, I thought I was in a bit of trouble, but once I asked the question, he just put them away.
“It was lovely to ride a winner for the owners, Graham Mackie and Trish Dunell, who I knew from riding in Singapore.”
Dunell is also a part-owner of Talenti’s sire Niagara, a Group Two winning son of Encosta de Lago, who stands at The Oaks Stud in New Zealand for $5,000+GST.
Niagara has enjoyed a spate of recent winners, including Calling Us Home at Pakenham on Thursday night, progressive Adelaide galloper Jaguary, Tuigirl at Hawke’s Bay and Group One placegetter Beyond The Fort, who will contest Sunday’s Steelform Roofing Group Waverley Cup (2200m).
