Astern two-year-old Perle De Chocolat has always looked a filly with promise and she got the maiden out of the way when winning at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
A $120,000 purchase for R Unicorn Stable and Satomi Oka Bloodstock from the Alma Vale/Kitchwin Hills Partnership draft at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, the filly becomes the first winner in Australia for her owner Healthy Wood Co. Ltd who race worldwide.
After trialling strongly at the Official Two-Year-Old Trials in Sydney in September, Perle De Chocolat finished 5th in the Gimcrack Stakes on debut when finding some bother, then third as favourite in the Opal Preview at Canberra followed by a well beaten effort in the Group II Reisling Stakes.
Back to maiden grade last start she led around the tight Wyong circuit on a soft track when third but on a firmer surface today and ridden a little more quietly by Tyler Schiller she was too strong and the Ryan/Alexiou trained daughter of Astern defeated Surf's Up (Flying Artie) by half a length with Miss Freelove (Tassort) third.
She is the third winner for French bred Chocolatier (Lawman), a winner and Listed placed from a family which includes Pierro.
Chocolatier foaled to Starspangledbanner last season and was served by King’s Legacy.
