Soverato secures valuable black type

Talented mare Soverato (NZ) (Vadamos) headed a New Zealand-bred trifecta when she claimed the third and most significant win of her career to date in Saturday’s A$300,000 Gr.3 Powerflo Solutions Tesio Stakes (2040m) at Flemington.

The daughter of Vadamos had shown bright promise as a three-year-old last season, winning twice and finishing third in the Gr.3 Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m), fourth in the Gr.2 Phar Lap Stakes (1500m), fifth in the Gr.1 Australian Oaks (2400m) and Gr.1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) and sixth in the Gr.2 Doomben Roses (2000m).

Seventh over 1400m and third over 1600m in her first two starts this time in, the Chris Waller-trained Soverato relished the step up to 2040m on Saturday and put her best foot forward.

Soverato was ridden by Damian Lane and settled just behind a clump of five horses that pushed forward to vie for the early lead. When they finally settled into an order with Sunset Park (Sea The Stars) out in front, Soverato remained handily placed in sixth and one off the rail.

Lane angled Soverato to the outside at the top of the straight and asked her to lengthen stride. She drew up alongside the leaders with 250m to run and thrust her head in front.

Soverato gave Lane everything he asked for through a tough final 150m and she won by a long neck from a wall of horses, which was headed by fellow Kiwi-breds Shockletz (NZ) (Shocking) and Ocean Bay (NZ) (Vanbrugh).

“She was good,” Lane said. “She has been on an upward trajectory throughout her career and had been building to a performance like this, so it was great for it all to come together today.

“She found the line well today. She was in front from a long way out and sustained a good run. It was a good effort.”

Soverato has now had 12 starts for three wins and three placings. She has earned A$368,700 for an OTI Racing ownership syndicate.

“Chris Waller always said when she was a three-year-old that there was plenty to come when she matured,” OTI Racing director Terry Henderson said.

“Her last two runs had been very strong, so there was a bit of confidence going into today.

“When they were going at a good clip, sitting back there, I was just thinking she needed a bit of racing room and build her up.

“I think the Matriarch Stakes (Gr.2, 2000m) back here in two weeks might be an option. Chris will make that decision, but because she’s only had the three runs, she’s certainly not over the top yet.”

Soverato is by Vadamos out of the Casino Prince mare Princess Biscotte, who is a half-sister to Gr.1 CF Orr Stakes (1400m) winner Barkada (Spectrum).

Along with Soverato, Princess Biscotte’s four winners from six foals to race also include the Listed 3YO Salver (2100m) winner Formidable (NZ) (Shocking). He was later renamed Tianchi Monster and won six races in Hong Kong.

Offered by breeders Rich Hill Stud during the 2024 NZB National Online Yearling Sale on Gavelhouse Plus, Soverato was bought by Katrina and Simon Alexander’s Kasa Bloodstock for $10,000. OTI Racing later purchased her following an eye-catching second for the Alexanders in a Waipa trial in May of 2025.