Well-related filly Chiaretta (NZ) (Makfi) showed she has inherited her share of the family ability when coming from well off the pace to break maiden ranks when winning the NZB Ready To Run Nov 20 – 21 (1200m) at Te Rapa on Friday.
Chiaretta split stakes performers Appellant and Blackrocksdetox when second at her only start at two and had prepared for Friday’s victory with a strong trials victory at Cambridge.
The Stephen Marsh-trained filly settled at the rear of the field from her outside barrier for jockey Danielle Johnson and ran home well when finding clear racing room to record a neck victory over the fast-finishing Bella Mente.
“We were always going to go back and knew the pace would be on,” Marsh said. “You just don’t know if they can make up that much ground in a nice field like this.
“Danielle just saved a couple of lengths here and there and presented her at the right time.”
The daughter of Makfi sports the colours of prominent Wellington owner Lib Petagna and is a half-sister to stakes winning mare Members Joy, who is in turn the dam of Group Two winner Pure Elation.
Chiaretta was identified by bloodstock agent Bruce Perry, who purchased the filly from the Book 1 session of the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales for $200,000 from the draft of Windsor Park Stud.
The filly has impressed her connections and a trip across the Tasman next year could be on the cards for the promising three-year-old.
“Between Lib, Bruce and I, we have talked about getting her through to Christmas and she is a filly we would ideally like to get to Sydney in the autumn,” Marsh said.
“At this stage, box one has been ticked.”
Closer to home, Marsh is weighing up between the Gr.2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial Stakes (1400m) at Te Rapa on Labour Day or the Gr.3 Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) on October 26 as Chiaretta’s next target.
“We can look at the Soliloquy and Sarten now and see which way we want to go,” he said. “We are not trying to head down south with her.
“We know she likes Te Rapa and she has run second at Ellerslie, so either suits.”
Johnson also believes Chiaretta has a big future.
“She has got a few gears,” she said. “Going forward, I think she is a very progressive filly. She is going to go places.” Runner-up Bella Mente also showed she was nearing a return to her best, with the daughter of El Rocca Group One-placed at two.
