Greta West Stud bred its second smart maiden winner in a week when Kabrocco streeted his rivals at Echuca.
The speedy 3yo bolted in by 5 lengths on debut in the Border Inn Plate (1000m) for a syndicate that includes Tripp Racing and the Wangaratta Members Club.
"It was all over when I gave him a touch-up with the whip," jockey Patrick Maloney said. "But I didn't really need the stick – it was sweet a long way out.
"There's plenty of upside with this horse. He travelled beautifully although he was a bit green and ran about a bit in the straight. But he kicked clear when it counted."
Kabrocco (3g Kaphero - Brocco Dancer by Brocco) is trained by Daniel McCarthy and is a half-brother to Listed Lord Stakes winner Just Look (Fraar) and Adelaide stakes performer Belleza Veloz (Hemingway).
Greta West pensioned Brocco Dancer after she foaled a Keep The Faith colt last November. Studmaster Laurie McCarthy retained her 2010 daughter Brocbel (Bel Esprit) and she delivered a Wanted filly last year.
Kabrocco cashed in shortly after Greta West-bred filly Madam Stryker opened her account with tough victory in the Elusive Style Maiden Plate (1590m) at Wangaratta.
Trained by Mick Sell, she settled in the running line under stable jockey Chris Nicoll before getting the better of a bumping duel with Hovering on the home turn. "She's still as green as grass but deserved that win," Sell said. "It was a great ride by Chris and great work from all the team."
Madam Stryker (3f Stryker – Stagerush by Giant's Causeway) was a $20,000 buy at the 2015 Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale when offered by Little Plains Stud on behalf of Greta West.
Stagerush
won a Sandown sprint for mares when trained by Robert Smerdon and her 2yo is a
Reward For Effort filly named Lucky Reward with Mornington trainer Allen
Waymouth.
Greta West resident Keep The Faith was represented by his first stakes winner as a broodmare sire when Mella Maria captured the Group 2 Spring Challenge in South Africa on the weekend.
The front-running Star Witness mare was resuming from an 11-week break and showed a ton of guts to fall in at Turffontein.
Mella Maria is from Keep The Faith's black-type daughter Sayahailmary.
Trainer Mike Azzie acknowledged it was good to win a Group 2 for paddock value. "She deserved one at this level and is a nice mare for stud now. Karl (Zechner) said he gave her a breather at the top of the straight and she ran her heart out all the way to the line."
Greta West stands Keep The Faith for a $3,300 (inc gst) service fee alongside God's Own and King Of Prussia.
