G1 Queen of the Turf Next for Levante

Media Release - Tuesday March 21

Top-class mare Levante has taken no harm from her courageous effort in the Gr.1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) with the focus now on a date against her own sex.

Levante will head to the Gr.1 Queen of the Turf Stakes (1600m) at Randwick next month. Photo: Race Images

The multiple top-flight winner came from the tail of the field in a slowly run event at Rosehill to run fifth and a performance that has confirmed the original plan to progress on to the Gr.1 Queen of the Turf Stakes (1600m) at Randwick.

The Ken and Bev Kelso-trained Levante went back to the tail from a wide barrier in the George Ryder and did exceptionally well to finish within less than a length of Godolphin’s champion performer Anamoe.

“It was a terrific run and we were very happy with her. She has come through the race well, it was a very hot day over there and she coped with all of it well,” Ken Kelso said.

Advertisement

“She ran a tick under 33s for her last 600m and it’s a bit hard to pick them up from there so it was a good run.”

Expatriate New Zealand jockey Michael Dee partnered the six-year-old at Rosehill and was lavish in his praise of the performance from the daughter of Proisir.

“It was a massive effort, I thought we were going to pick them up on the corner. Probably a career best effort. Any rain would help,” he said.

Levante will step out next at Randwick on April 8 in the Queen of the Turf under weight-for-age conditions against fillies and mares.

It will present her with another opportunity to further her record at the highest level following victories in the last two editions of Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m), the Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m) and the Gr.1 Otaki Maori WFA Classic (1600m).

Meanwhile, stablemate Legarto is enjoying an easy time back at the Waikato property of part-owner Phillip Brown, also involved in the syndicate behind Levante, following her heroics in the Gr.1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington.

“She’s spelling at Ancroft Stud and she’s all good. She’ll have six or eight weeks out and we’ll check her out after six weeks and see how she’s doing,” Kelso said.

“We haven’t set any plans for her as yet.”

On the domestic front, the well-related Les Crayeres turned in a solid effort to finish fourth in the Gr.3 Cuddle Stakes (1600m) at Trentham on Saturday.

It was the Sir Peter Vela-bred and raced daughter of Redoute’s Choice’s first appearance since she ran fourth in the Listed Wairarapa Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) in early February.

“We haven’t really decided where she goes next, we haven’t set a plan yet and we’ll talk to (Pencarrow Stud Racing Manager) Garry Cossey,” Kelso said.

A half-sister to stakes winner Dolmabache and Cote D’Or, Les Crayeres is out of a half-sister to the Gr.1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) winner Grand Echezeaux and the dam of the multiple Group One winner and successful sire Darci Brahma.

It is a highly decorated Pencarrow Stud family that also features the farm’s champion Australasian stayer and four-time Group One winner Ethereal. – NZ Racing Desk

Visit the profile page for Proisir

Proisir in upcoming sales:
Advertisment
More Reading...
Star Proisir Mare Levante Arrives in Sydney
Levante’s Sydney autumn carnival mission has got off to the right start with a smooth trans-Tasman flight ahead of her campaign opener in next Saturday’s Gr. 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m).
Knights Choice a True Underdog Story
Punters were left stunned when the Queenslander Knight's Choice and Japanese visitor Warp Speed (JPN) emerged from the pack to fight out a dramatic finish to the $8,560,000 Group 1 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington.
All Too Hard's Arran Bay Brave in the Furphy Plate
Phillip Stokes admitted his preference was to run Arran Bay in the Listed John Letts Cup at Morphettville but was overruled by the owners, who made the correct decision in favouring the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) at Flemington.
Proisir Mare Does it Again! Levante Wins G1 Telegraph
Champion sprinting mare Levante returned to the scene of her inaugural Group One victory on Saturday and made it back-to-back triumphs in the Gr.1 JR & N Berkett Telegraph (1200m) after another titanic struggle in the home straight.
Fourth G1 Win for Proisir Mare Levante
Matamata-trained mare Levante added a fourth Group One victory to her résumé when she defeated another class performer in La Crique to take out the Gr.1 El Cheapo Cars WFA Classic (1600m) at Otaki.
Rosemont and Partners Stakes Quinella on Cup Day
Written Tycoon posted his second new stakes-winner on Melbourne Cup Day when promising three year-old gelding Catoggio took out the Listed VRC Amanda Elliot Stakes (1400m)  for Rosemont Stud and partners, who also race the second horse Bosustow.
Kiwi Bred Grey Wins Subzero for OTI at Flemington
New Zealand-bred gelding Cloudland proved a handful for James McDonald at Flemington on Tuesday, but the champion jockey was in a forgiving mood after they had claimed top honours in the Subzero Handicap.
Kiwi Bred Gringotts Wins $3million Big Dance
Talented New Zealand-bred gelding Gringotts(NZ) (Per Incanto) delivered a big payday for his connections with victory in Tuesday’s A$3 million Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick.
2024 Melbourne Cup Result - It's Knights Choice
The 2024 Melbourne Cup has been run and won with Knight’s Choice, a five-year-old gelding by Extreme Choice victorious.
El Vencedor wins G3 Balmerino Stakes
El Vencedor is making a habit of picking up major victories at Ellerslie, adding the Gr.3 Balmerino Stakes (2000m) to his burgeoning record at Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup Day meeting.