A high-class field of mares lined up for Saturday's Group II Coolmore Sheraco Stakes (1200m) at Kembla Grange, and the kiwi Entriviere treated them with contempt.
With James McDonald in the saddle for trainer Jamie Richards, Entriviere left them standing when she accelerated from midfield. The daughter of Tavistock defeated the Deep Field mare Fituese by one and a quarter lengths with the consistent Dream Ahead (USA) mare Marboosha three-quarter of a length back in third.
Entriviere is top-class (image Steve Hart)
Entriviere crossed the Tasman with five wins and a second from six starts, including a pair of Group III wins in the ARC Concorde Handicap and King's Plate.
Entriviere found Fasika a shade too good in the Group II ATC Sapphire Stakes at Randwick in April before returning home.
Richards has a high opinion of the 5yo mare.
"I think she is probably as good as we have got in terms of her raw speed," Richards said.
"She puts in 120 percent every day, whether that is trackwork, trials or races. She wants to do whatever she can to please. That's a very rare trait when they can do that. I love the way she pins her ears back and is in for the fight.
"We will probably go to the Golden Pendant in a fortnight. There is a race a week later, the Premiere Stakes, we could look at, but I'm more inclined to keep her again to fillies and mares.
"I’m concentrating on having her ready to win The Invitation. So she can have a month between runs and a trial into The Invitation. She’s at her best with her races spaced.”
Entriviere looks the goods (image Steve Hart)
Bred by Kevin Gray and his wife Kathleen, Entriviere had an interesting start to life.
Her dam Marcey's Belt (Golan) was leased to Gray’s son Stephen on behalf of a client in Singapore, who put her to Tavistock.
Tragically the Singapore client died when Marcey's Belt was carrying Entriviere who was sold to Te Akau.
Marcey’s Belt is also the dam of the stakes-placed Satin Belt (Power).
The daughter of Golan is a half-sister to the Group II Light Fingers Stakes winner Adrift (Zabeel) and the Karaka Millions winner Imperial Win (Iffraaj).
The dam of Marcey’s Belt, Stray (Tale Of The Cat) is a half-sister to triple Group 1 winner Maldivian.
Macey’s Belt has a yearling filly by Burgundy and was not covered last spring.
