Recuperato (AUS)
2 f Farnan – Afiado by Encosta de Lago
O: Mr E Gelagotis, Mr M B Christian, Mr B G Christian, Mr S F Spiteri, Mr J Cashmore, Mrs A Cashmore, Surf Coast Racing, Mr L Osman, Grants Racing, Old Bulls, Mrs A Borges
B: Mrs K Bond, Qld
T: Peter Gelagotis
S: 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale V: Kenmore Lodge P: Toking / Stephen Gray Racing / Wattle Bloodstock, $210,000
W: TBV Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes, Group 3, 1200m, March 29, Flemington
Peter Gelagotis celebrated his first stakes-level success in over three years last Saturday when his exciting filly Recuperato (Farnan) flew home down the famous Flemington straight to score her maiden win in the Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m).
The filly, who finished fifth on debut in the Cinderella Stakes (Listed, 1050m) at Morphetville, entered Saturday’s contest an $11 chance off the back of a last start third placing at Sandown, and caught her rivals off guard with a flashing turn of foot in the closing stages of the race. Under Ben Melham, Recuperato defeated Prestige Snitzel (Snitzel) by 1.25 lengths, with Befuddle (Hanseatic) the same margin behind in third.
“Her two races have really brought her on,” said Gelagotis post-race. “She was a little bit exuberant in Adelaide, but I thought her run was creditable enough and she just got a little bit lost coming down the hill at her next start.
“But when she got out and got clear air, her closing sectionals indicated to us that she was worthy of being here. So we challenged her today, and she couldn’t have been more impressive and more emphatic. It was a deserved win, and I thought she was over the odds.
“Ben Melham was impressed with the filly’s tenacity.”
Recuperato was a $210,000 purchase for Toking, Stephen Gray Racing and Wattle Bloodstock from Kenmore Lodge’s draft at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. She is the fourth foal and third winner out of Afiado (Encosta de Lago), who herself is a sister to In the Vanguard (Encosta de Lago), the dam of Champion two-year-old and now Cambridge Stud-based sire Sword Of State (Snitzel).
The filly became Kia Ora Stud’s first-season sire Farnan’s seventh individual winner and second stakes winner, after King Of Pop got the stallion off the mark when victorious the Black Opal Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) earlier in the month.