5 Win Saturday - Viva Vienna Victorious

Previous course winner Viva Vienna (2 f All Too Hard - Anna of Austria, by Snitzel) embellished her excellent record with a defiant victory in the $30,000 Website Angels 2YO 1100 metres on Saturday at Te Rapa.

A winner in November at Te Rapa, and second to stable-mate and Karaka Million 2YO (Restricted Listed, 1200m) winner Tokyo Tycoon (Satono Aladdin) before being freshened, Viva Vienna did the job well when winning at the trials on 21 March at Taupo, and shaped as a top three chance.

With speed to race handily, Viva Vienna worked across from the outside gate to race in second, challenged to lead 250 metres out, and dug in over the concluding stages to hold two challengers at bay. 

On Soft5 footing, Viva Vienna ran 1100 metres in 1:06.1 and paid $2.30 & $1.50 on the NZ TAB tote.

“She was left in front a long way from home, so it was a good tough effort to see it out and she'll improve for the run too,” said trainer Mark Walker, who has produced 11 individual two-year-old winners of 21 races this season. 

“She's a natural two-year-old with a good action, very professional, and has the speed to race handily.”

Purchased by Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM for $100,000 in March at the 2022 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Wesbury Stud, Viva Vienna is owned by Te Akau Empress Of Austria Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM).

“She qualified for the Karaka Million and became a bit shin sore, so it's good to see her back winning her second race this season,” Ellis said.

“She's a filly with a good action that has a tremendous will to win, and with that attitude can only continue to improve.

“We've got a couple in the stable by All Too Hard that are going well, so that's good to see too - in fact we still have three shares available in another All Too Hard filly I bought at the Magic Millions' Sale and she's flying through her breaking in, a very exciting filly in there making.”

All Too Hard (Casino Prince) is a half-brother to the unbeaten champion Black Caviar (Bel Esprit), winner of all 25 of starts, including 15 Group Ones, and sire of Queensland Horse of the Year Alligator Blood. 

Winning three times as a two-year-old, All Too Hard won three Group One races over 1400 metres in Australia: All Aged Stakes, Futurity Stakes, C. F. Orr Stakes, and made his mark as a sire in Australia with 1200 winners, including 52 stakes' winners.

Dam-sire Snitzel (Redoute's Choice) is one of three in the trilogy of breed shaping champion stallions in Australia, along with forefathers Danehill (Danzig), and Redoute's Choice (Danehill).

The filly carries bloodline crosses to Danehill and Snippets, while Anna of Austria has a Canny Lad cross, which overall suggests a speed influence. 

Viva Vienna was strapped by Stephanie Hyde-Richards.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz