Soverato set for Matriarch Stakes challenge

New Zealand-bred mare Soverato (NZ) (Vadamos) will look to continue her rise through the grades when she tackles the Gr.2 Matriarch Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on November 7.

The Chris Waller-trained four-year-old heads towards the Group Two contest following an impressive victory in Saturday’s Gr.3 Tesio Stakes (1600m) at Flemington, where she finished strongly under Damian Lane to defeat Shockletz (NZ) (Shocking) by a long neck, with Ocean Bay (NZ) (Vanbrugh) a further short-head away in third.

The daughter of Vadamos has continued to improve throughout her preparation, with OTI Racing’s Terry Henderson confident there is more to come from the progressive mare.

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

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

Henderson indicated the Matriarch Stakes was the logical next target, with Soverato having had just three starts this preparation.

“Chris will make that decision but because she’s only had the three runs, she’s certainly not over the top yet,” he said.

Lane was equally complimentary following her Tesio Stakes success, believing the mare had been building towards a performance of that calibre.

“She has been on an upward trajectory throughout her career, particularly this preparation and had been building to a performance like Saturday's,” Lane said.

Soverato was bred by Rich Hill Stud and offered through the 2024 NZB National Online Yearling Sale on Gavelhouse Plus, where she was purchased by Katrina and Simon Alexander’s Kasa Bloodstock for just $10,000.

She subsequently caught the attention of OTI Racing after finishing an eye-catching second in a trial at Waipa in May 2025 for the Alexanders, prompting the Australian ownership group to secure her.