Annavisto impresses in the Frances Tressady Stakes

[Wandering Eyes]

Annavisto (NZ) ridden by Jamie Kah wins the Tressady Stakes at Flemington. (Brett Holburt/Racing Photos)

Jamie Kah booted home her second win at Flemington on Saturday in the Group 3 Frances Tressady Stakes (1400m) aboard Annavisto.

The Mick Price & Michael Kent Jr-trained mare made it three wins from four first-up runs with what was an impressive performance.

Kah wasn’t able to cross and lead with the front-running mare, as Damian Oliver booted up to hold the rail and the lead aboard his mount Electric Girl.

That didn’t worry neither horse nor jockey though, as they were happy to settle just off the leader.

When Kah asked the daughter of Reliable Man to quicken at the 400m, she quickly took care of Electric Girl before exploding away from the rest of the field to go on to score by three-and-a-quarter lengths.

Simply dominant!

Annavisto bolts in at @FlemingtonVRC!@MickPriceRacing @MichaelRhysKent @jamieleekah07 pic.twitter.com/WIJRrMay4o

— Racing.com (@Racing) March 5, 2022

Price seemed keen to target his gallopers at some better class races in Sydney during their carnival this Autumn.

“One-hundred percent,” was Price’s response when asked if Annavisto had earned the opportunity to take on some Group 1 horses in Sydney this preparation.

Annavisto certainly won’t have any issues if the rain continues in Sydney in the coming weeks.

“The thing about her is toe in the ground. As soon as she feels the hard track, she tends to jar up a little, but the rain here was beautiful for her,” Price stated.

Both trainer and jockey were impressed with how much the four-year-old mare has furnished.

“She’s matured a lot this prep. Physically and mentally,” Kah said.

“She let me take a nice sit today, and then she really breathed and relaxed and that was probably the difference in the finish. She was very strong late.”

“She’s always been a talented horse, but she has done it a bit too hard early in her races.

“I think now that she’s matured, we can take that sit if we need to.

“Physically, she’s a different looking horse, she’s grown and I think she’s in for a good prep.”

The New Zealand-bred galloper is part-owned by former Essendon footballer Jobe Watson, along with two of his former teammates Cale Hooker and Tom Bellchambers.

“This is the most excited I’ve been for a long time,” Watson stated after the Group 3 victory.

“We’ve been patient, but it was a real thrill today.

Watson indicated that he was excited about the prospect of travelling North to watch his improved galloper race.

“I think the track in Sydney is very appealing.

“It would be lovely to go up there.”

Annavisto is rated a $15 chance on Sportsbet to win the Group 1 Coolmore Legacy Stakes at Randwick on April 9.

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