Smart filly breaks maiden ranks

Smart filly breaks maiden ranks

Atishu fought hard to win at Pukekohe on Friday. Photo: Marsh Racing Facebook

Atishu scored a well-deserved and expected win at Pukekohe on Friday in the Haunui Farm 3yo 1400.

The daughter of Savabeel was sent out at $1.30 on the tote and raced in a manner deserving of the race favourite tag.

Ridden by Danielle Johnson, Atishu bided her time midfield before being asked for an effort on straightening, letting down nicely to finish strongly and win by a neck over last-start winner Anduin.

“She is a very talented filly,” said Go Racing’s Albert Bosma. “She is royally bred and realising her value now that she is stakes placed and a winner.

“We think she has it all in front of her and will just get better as she steps out over further.”

Prior to Friday the Stephen Marsh-trained Atishu had placed in four of her five starts including a runner-up finish in the Listed Wanganui Guineas (1200m) on a heavy track earlier in the season.

Bosma is eyeing a return to stakes level with the three-year-old filly and has earmarked southern black-type targets for Atishu.

“For her next three starts she will be heading down to Riccarton,” he said. “On the 27th she will line up in a three-year-old open 1400m race, followed on the 10th of April in the Listed Airfreight Stakes over a mile.

“Two weeks after that is the Warstep Stakes (Listed, 2000m). Her next goal is to get a stakes win on the board and these races are ideal targets for her, as she is on the way up.”

Raced by the Go Racing Ring A Ring Syndicate, Atishu was purchased by Go Racing out of Waikato Stud’s 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 draft for $260,000.

Atishu is out of No Excuse Needed Mare Posy, a half-sister to Champion Three-Year-Old of her year and three-time Group One winner Daffodil.

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