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A well-judged front-running ride from Jason Waddell aided Crown Prosecutor to claim his maiden win in the Gr.3 Lucia Valentina Wellington Stakes (1600m) at Otaki on Friday for Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh.
It was a fitting result, given Crown Prosecutor sports the colours of part-owner Lib Petagna, who raced triple Group One winner Lucia Valentina, the 2013 winner of the race and whom the event is now named after.
Crown Prosecutor had been placed in two of his three starts, but showed significant improvement to win the mile feature, defeating Swords Drawn by a neck, with the fast-closing Sentimental Miss a nose away in third.
“It was a great ride to go straight to the front with the blinkers on today,” Marsh’s Racing Manager Todd Pollard said.
“We were about four and a half lengths off (race-rival) Sahar last-start, so we thought we had a lot to make up, but he’s come out and led and has just kept going.”
“He’s a lovely colt, he’s got a great physique.”
The Medaglia D’Oro colt was purchased by Bruce Perry, racing manager for Petagna who shares in the ownership with Harvey Green.
“He was a bit colty before the start,” Pollard said.
“Bruce said we may have to geld him, but I don’t think we will now.
“It’s a great result to win the Lucia Valentina today. Stephen trained her for Lib before she went to Australia.”