Reliable Man filly Annavisto was an impressive winner at Mornington on Thursday for Caulfield trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr.
The three-year-old, who was born and raised at Curraghmore, was well supported into $2.50 on debut and came from midfield to score a dominant three-length win under Damien Oliver in the Jane Neve Maiden Plate (1200m)
Sporting the colours of Bill Frost’s Pendant Equine, Annavisto was purchased out of Tony Pike’s stable in New Zealand after winning a trial at Te Teko over 800m and she will now be set on a Classic path.
“That was fantastic. You couldn’t have asked for a better debut,” Kent Jnr said.
“She was a little bit keen early, there wasn’t much tempo, but to do what she did vindicates what we think of her.
Bred by Greg Tomlinson, Annavisto is out of the Tavistock mare, Avisto and Kent Jnr is confident she will one day be an Oaks contender, but whether that is this spring’s Gr.1 VRC Oaks (2500m) is yet to be determined.
“She’s a gorgeous type, she’s got so much scope,” Kent Jnr said.
“She’s bred to get an Oaks trip this filly, but she’s got a bit of speed, which she needs.
“We’ve got a circle around the Guineas (Gr.1, 1600m) first, but we’ll see how far she gets being her first preparation.”
Tomlinson remains in the ownership which also includes Essendon footballers Jobe Watson (retired former captain), Cale Hooker and Tom Bellchambers.
Annavisto is the first winner for Tavistock stakes-winner Avisto, a half-sister to stakes-winner Celtic Tiger from the family of Group Two winner Pure Harmony.
Of the four Curraghmore graduates racing Thursday, all ran in the money. Following on from Annavisto's win lightly raced three-year-old Not A Zak finished strongly for third in the next at Mornington. At Ispwich Celtic Tiger finished runner up in his 1350m contest, with Highland Skipper running third in the next on the card. -NZ Racing Desk, Curraghmore
