Au Revoir Viva

Costa Viva (pictured defeating Bounding in the Group 1 NZ 1000 Guineas) ticked the final box before she heads to the Queensland winter carnival with a pleasing gallop this morning.

Solid work right-handed on the Matamata course proper confirmed her spot on the charter flight leaving Auckland on Thursday with the bulk of the Kiwi contingent bound for Brisbane.

“That should top her off nicely,” said trainer Jason Bridgman after stable jockey Matt Cameron had taken Costa Viva over 1200 metres in 1:25.2 and 600 in 39 on a track well softened by overnight rain, partnered by Te Rapa weekend runner Quintette. “The trial she had last week has brought her along nicely and she's in the right order for what lies ahead.”

In her first public appearance since finishing third in the Desert Gold Stakes in mid-January, the New Zealand 1000 Guineas winner scored a four-length win in her 1000-metre Te Awamutu trial last Tuesday. The Encosta de Lago filly's spring and early summer form was sufficient to retain the lead and claim the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year title.

Now she's poised to add further accolades before season's end, possibly as soon as this weekend should she line up in the Gr. 3 Gold Coast Guineas over 1200 metres at Southport.

“With the flight heading across on Thursday we'll pay up then see how she travels and settles in before deciding on a start,” Bridgman said. “If she doesn't run she can kick off in the Fred Best Classic in a couple of weeks.

“That's over 1350 metres at Doomben, the race Platinum Kingdom won last year.”

Vinnie Colgan, who returns to his Brisbane base this week after a successful sojourn back home, has been engaged for Saturday's A$125,000 race.

Costa Viva will be accompanied to Brisbane by older stablemate Precious Time, who has no specific targets with Bridgman adopting a wait and see approach with the four-race winner.

“She's a handy mare who hasn't had things go her way a lot of the time,” her trainer said. “What we'd love to do is try and get some black-type form for her.

“She's closely related to Lankan Rupee and is from one of Cambridge Stud's most successful families. She's already very valuable but black-type would really top it off for her owner Christopher Grace, who's keen to send her to Lankan Rupee's sire Redoute's Choice in the spring.

“Her dam and Lankan Rupee's dam are sisters, so a Redoute's foal from Precious Time would be a brother or sister in blood to the horse who is now Australia's best sprinter.”

Credit - The Informant