Live Drama (NZ) (Ghibellines) gave a flawless performance on the main stage at Riccarton on Saturday to post the second black type victory of her career.
With 55.5kg, the mare was ideally suited to the set weights and penalties conditions of the Gr.3 Valachi Downs South Island Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) and duly added the feature to her Listed Great Easter Stakes (1400m) title.
Rider Kavish Chowdhoory kept the leaders within his sights and, when the field fanned out at the top of the straight, they came through on the inner to kick clear and the six-year-old held a strong gallop to the post for a comfortable victory.
Live Drama was overdue to add to her record as she had finished runner-up in the Gr.3 White Robe Lodge (1600m) at her previous start off the back of another second placing in the Listed Timaru Stakes (1400m).
“She’s carried big weights all the way through so this race suited her really well,” Robinson said.
“It was her day today and I’m just so pleased that she pulled it off because she deserved it, she always tries her very best.
“She has always run in the best of company and we’re all so very proud of her.”
While Saturday’s event was perfect for Live Drama, future opportunities in the South Island might be scarce and part-owner Robinson is unsure what his next step will be.
“She is very hard to place down here with her place in the handicap,” he said.
“We’ll let the dust settle and see how many points she gets for this win. We’ll sit down then and decide what we’re going to do.
“We’ll try and map something out and make a few decisions. She comes first and we’ll be looking after her.”
Live Drama is a daughter of Ghibellines, who stands at the Anderton family’s White Robe Lodge and he also sired the Brian and Shane Anderton-trained runner-up Burgie (NZ), while the winner’s stablemate Avaquinella took third money.
Burgie had been a lead-up winner in Rating 82 company and admirably handled the rise in class with a stout finishing run from the back while Avaquinella (NZ) (Proisir) also found the line strongly for her placing.
Live Drama has proved to be a grand money spinner for connections, who bought her out of White Robe’s draft at New Zealand Bloodstock’s South Island Sale for $8500.
She has won nine of her 30 starts and her stake earnings have now topped the $280,000 mark.
Live Drama is from the immediate family of the Anderton-trained Cherry Creek (Monashee Mountain), who won the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) and produced the three-time Group Three winner Coulee (NZ) (Gallant Guru).
“She’s quite valuable as a broodmare now she’s a Group Three winner as well,” Robinson said.
“She’s been a terrific horse to train and a pleasure to have in the stable.
“She has got a few little quirks, but we just know her inside and out and we don’t have any issues with her.”
