Progressive mare Vamos Bebe took the step up to stakes company with relative ease when she strode clear in the final stages of Saturday’s Listed Hallmark Stud Sprint (1200m) at Ellerslie for a comprehensive victory in the silks of Trelawney Stud.
Trainer Jamie Richards backed his opinion of the I Am Invincible four-year-old, who was rated a clear six points lower than any of her eight rivals and was rewarded with performance that showed she is well up to top company over the sprint trips.
Rider Danielle Johnson had her charge well positioned in the trail before pushing into the clear rounding the home turn. Asked for a serious effort at the 200m Vamos Bebe strode past pacemaker Madam Hass before holding out a late run from Vigor Winner, who had tracked her throughout.
Richards was delighted with the result after making the commitment to try the rating70 mare out of her grade.
“It’s not something we do without a great deal of thought,” he said.
“She’s a promising mare who we thought was the best of our three-year-olds last year, but she had a few immaturity issues and just needed some time.
“She’s a very valuable commodity now with the black type to her name and the breeding she has on her side.”
Out of the Group One winning miler Hurtle Myrtle, Vamos Bebe is an older sister to multiple Group Three winner Holyfield. The daughter of I Am Invincible was passed in through the ring as a yearling though purchased after the fact by Brent and Cherry Taylor who race her in partnership with Faith Taylor. -NZ Racing Desk