Coolmore Sires Trifecta G3 Kembla Grange Classic
The Group I VRC Oaks runner-up Pavitra (3f American Pharoah x Gypsy Robin, by Daaher) will take her place in the Group 1 ATC Vinery Stud Stakes after proving a class above in the Group III Kembla Grange Classic (1600m) at Kembla Grange on Friday.
Ridden by Chad Schofield for Richard and Will Freedman, Pavitra was caught wide in the early stages, with Schofield electing to press on to sit outside the leader.
Still with a lapful of horse on straightening, Schofield pressed the button at the 300m and found an immediate response as the daughter of American Pharoah shot away to defeat So Dazzling (3f So You Think x So Dazzling, by Lonhro) by four lengths with Pierossa (3f Pierro x Edwina Georgie, by Testa Rossa) a half-neck back in third.
A Kia Ora Stud homebred, Pavitra resumed with a promising fifth in the Group II Millie Fox Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill on February 18 and looks primed for a big autumn campaign.
With her stakes breakthrough, Pavrita advances her record to three wins, two seconds, and a third from 10 starts with earnings of $434,605.
Chad Schofield was full of praise for Pavitra.
“That was very impressive. Obviously, we have bigger fish to fry in the Vinery and Oaks, but she put the writing on the wall in Melbourne, and she is a beautiful staying filly,” Schofield said.
“She has been a filly that over-travelled in her races, but today she spat the bit out. She got into lovely rhythm and kept extending up the straight. It was a lovely feeling.”
Will Freedman said it was next stop the Group I Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) on March 25.
“There’s always nerves when dealing with horses that showed they could do it last prep the come in later in their 3yo career,” Freedman said.
“When she gets her way up front like that she is dynamic.
“We have a great group of owners and Kia Ora are fantastic breeders who have supported us for a long time.
“We have had some good discussions about where she is best placed. You want to get it right because you only get one chance in a 3yo career.
“It looks like we have pulled the right rein, and now it’s a matter of getting her right the next two weeks and heading to the Vinery where she looks another good chance.”
Pavitra is a half-brother to Group I winning sprinter Wild Ruler and is the second stakes-winner among three winners from Group II winning US import Gypsy Robin (USA).
Pavitra is the 32nd stakes-winner for Triple Crown hero American Pharoah , who shuttled for five seasons to Australia, the last in 2021.