Blue-Blood Encosta Filly Wins in NZ

25th September 2008

Matamata trainer Mark Walker knows all about the Encosta de Lago breed having prepared star mare Princess Coup to multiple Group One victories, but it was a new filly by Encosta de Lago that had him in the winner’s circle at Otaki on Thursday.

Resuming from a spell of 26 weeks after finishing fifth on debut at Ellerslie back in March, La Victoire (3f Encosta de Lago x Sequenza, by Lycius) proved too good in taking out the 1400 metre maiden by more than a length.

La Victoire (pictured as a yearling) was purchased for $950,000 by David Ellis from the Coolmore draft at the 2007 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale and is the sixth living foal of the Lycius mare Sequenza.

A smart producer, Sequenza is the dam of four winners led by quality HK sprinter Planet Ruler, winner of the HK International Sprint Trial HK Gr 2 and also the Group Two placed Amory Lane.

Sequenza had a full sister to La Victoire sell at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale this year for $500,000 and has a yearling colt by Rock of Gibraltar in the pipeline, plus she is due to foal to Holy Roman Emperor later in the spring.