Making her first start since finishing unplaced behind Toffee Tongue in the Group 1 Schweppes Oaks (2000m) at Morphettville on May 2, Godolphin’s 4yo Medaglia d’Oro (USA) mare Asiago made winning seasonal debut in Friday’s Listed Bishop Collins Mona Lisa Stakes (1350m) at Wyong.
Asiago wins the Mona Lisa Stakes - image Steve Hart
Given the perfect steer by Rachel King, the James Cummings-trained mare defeated the consistent Wandjina mare Wandabaa by a length with the 6yo Savabeel mare Missybeel a half-length further back in third.
Godolphin representative Nacim Dilmi said it was a pleasant surprise.
“Her first-up record showed she would run a good race, but we didn’t expect her to win that easily,” Dilmi told Sky Thoroughbred Central.
“The 1350m was going to be the perfect stepping stone for her next run but she has come back in good order.
“The tempo didn’t really suit her, they went a bit slower than we thought they would, but Rachel didn’t panic, kept a good hold of her and let her finish strongly.
“She had a nice break after Adelaide and is ready for a nice spring.”
Winner of the Group III NJC Spring Stakes at Newcastle and the Group III Kembla Grange Classic last season at three, Asiago advances her record to 6 wins and 2 thirds from 15 starts with earnings of $372,145.
The daughter of Medaglia d’Oro (USA) is the best of three winners from as many to race out of the very talented Disputes (Manton) who won the Listed ATC Reginald Allen Hcp and placed in the Listed AJC Gimcrack Stakes.
Disputes’ half-sister Divorces (Domesday) won the Group III MRC Thousand Guineas Prelude and Listed Gold Coast Bracelet and placed in eight stakes races including the Group 1 AJC Champagne Stakes and was fourth in the Group 1 Queensland Oaks won by Scarlett Lady.
Disputes has a yearling filly by Iffraaj (GB) but missed to Ribchester (IRE) last spring.
