Stakes Goals for Smart Pierro Winner

Kia Ora Stud's progressive filly Pajanti (3f Pierro x Crystal Flute, by Encosta de Lago) emerged from an 18-week hiatus to open her winning account in the 1200m maiden at Rosehill on Wednesday.

Ridden by Tim Clark for Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou, Pajanti did all the hard work in front and was strong to the line winning by half a length at her fourth start.

"She has always shown good ability, and I thought she would win a maiden before today," Gerald Ryan said.

"Kia Ora has been very patient. She is an expensive yearling with a great pedigree.

"There are a couple of nice fillies races are coming up over the carnival, which we would like to aim at."

A $500,000 Inglis Easter purchase for Kia-Ora Stud from the Sledmere Stud draft, Pajanti was bred by China Horse Club and is a half-sister to the Group I NZ Two Thousand Guineas runner-up Meritable being the fourth winner from as many to race for blueblood Encosta de Lago mare Crystal Flute.

A $1.4million for China Horse Club from the Teeley Assets draft at the 2016 National Broodmare Sale; Crystal Flute is a sister to Group and stakes-winners Precious Lorraine and Lucky Raquie being from the Monsoon Wedding branch of the Shantha’s Choice family featuring Group I stars Redoute’s Choice, Manhattan Rain, Platinum Scissors and Shoals.

At the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, The Chase consigned a So You Think colt out of Crystal Flute, which was a $325,000 buy for Snowden Racing and she as bred back to So You Think again last spring.