Exciting three year-old Russian Revolution colt Libertad kept his unbeaten record intact when resuming from a spell to win the Group III ATC San Domenico Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
Trained by Annabel Neasham, the Trilogy Racing colour bearer was last seen winning the Group III ATC Kindergarten Stakes back in April, but had looked sharp in his most recent trial.
Ridden by Chad Schofield, Libertad was quick to begin and camped behind the leaders and when angled into the clear hit the line hard to win by three-quarters of a length taking his overall record to three wins from three starts with earnings topping $287,000.
“From the tricky draw that was a masterstroke from Chad to end up in that spot. The plan was just to ride the horse. We didn’t know really what to do from the gate. He jumped really well. I thought we would be further back than we were,” said Annabel Neasham.
“He just slotted into that spot and once we were there it was going to take a tough one to beat him but the exciting thing with him is he is still pretty woolly in the coat. He’s an exciting colt with a big group of owners including Trilogy and he’s taking them on a good ride.”
Neasham is plotting a path to G1 success this spring for the undefeated colt planning to follow a traditional path to the $1million Golden Rose (1400m) on September 23.
“A couple of weeks into the Run To The Rose and then the Golden Rose. I think he will be better again over further,” she said.
“Chad has always had a lot of confidence in this horse. He sat on him like a church mouse coming up to the 250m. I was getting worried he was leaving it a bit late. He has a lot of ability and I don’t know the sky is hopefully the limit.”
Libertad was a $210,000 Inglis Ready 2 Race purchase for Annabel Neasham Racing Pty Ltd from the Nolen Racing draft and was a successful pinhook having been sourced from Inglis Classic for $40,000 from the Rheinwood Pastoral draft.
Bred by Rheinwood in partnership, Libertad is the third winner from Electric Charge, a winning half-sister by Charge Forward to Group III winner Miss Darcey from stakes-winner Miss Bussell.
Libertad is the first stakes-winner of the new season for Russian Revolution, who was the champion second crop sire last season by winners, earnings and stakes-winners.
