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  • Levante Gate Manners on the Improve

    Thursday, 4th March 2021

    High-class mare Levante (Proisir-Island Doy, by Doyoun) ran out a ready winner of her 1230m heat at the Rotorua trials on Tuesday after jumping away cleanly from the starting gates and will be seen back at the races on Saturday week. The Ken and Bev Kelso-trained four-year-old missed a place for the first time in her nine-start career when severely bombing the start at Te Rapa in the Gr1 BCD Sprint (1400m) last month, but still charged home for fifth. According to NZ Racing Desk, the daughter of Proisir (Choisir) jumped well from an inside draw under regular rider Sam Collett on Tuesday and had two lengths to spare on Group 1 galloper Tiptronic at the line in a competitive open heat. With a hold-up at the start at Te Rapa due to a rival requiring farrier attention, Ken Kelso was forgiving of his Group 2 winner and loathe to tinker too drastically, revealing, “We just kept her motivated before the start, trotted her around…” Levante will run next at Ellerslie on March 13 in the Royal Descent Stakes (1600m) against fillies and mares at set weights. The Pearl Series event will provide a significant pointer as to potential Group 1 mile prospects.

    Levante

    Levante is armed with a devastating finish (pic: Trish Dunell)