Champions' Day Double - Lara's G1 Glory

Simply the best, Lara Antipova (2 f Russian Revolution – Artistic Lass, by Myboycharlie) remained unbeaten in four starts when dominantly winning the $550,000 Group 1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) on Champions Day (3 March) at Ellerslie.

After providing Te Akau with their 11th victory in the Group 2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) on 14 February at Matamata, the star filly for Fortuna Racing (Mgr: John Galvin) was backed off the map ($1.10) to make it win number nine for the stable in the Sistema Stakes, having also won it last year with Return To Conquer (Snitzel), who recorded the 100th Group One win for Te Akau, and is now preparing to serve his first season at Waikato Stud.

Ridden by former Te Akau apprentice Michael Dee, who won the first race on the programme aboard stable-mate Top Shelf, Lara Antipova secured a lovely trip in fourth, travelled sweetly, was up to level at the 300m and proceeded to show her class when drawing clear.

“She wobbled a bit around the corner and they tried to push her out, but she was good to hold her spot and shortly after hit the front,” Dee said.

“She could have won by further, but there’s a lot to look at on a big day like this and a bit of noise around. She’s exciting and got a good temperament, too.”

On Good4 footing, Lara Antipova won by one and three-quarter lengths, covering 1200 metres in 1:10.7, last 600m in 34.2.

“She’s exciting and great for John Galvin and his team of owners, and well done to David Ellis, it’s the eighth winner of the race that he’s bought as a yearling, which is an incredible record,” said Mark Walker, training partner with Sam Bergerson.

“We think she’s up to Australian class and can look forward to getting her to Melbourne, for the back end of her two-year-old season and into next season as a three-year-old.

“There’s a race down the straight at Flemington at the end of this month, or maybe the Percy Sykes in Sydney, but it will be good to get her familiar with our Melbourne stable with a view to the Coolmore Stud Stakes in the spring. 

“Her form stacks up with Bellatrix Star, who John & Jessica (Fortuna Racing) and the team raced there, and she’s every bit as good as she was.”

Owned by the Fortuna Lara Antipova Syndicate (Mgr: John Galvin), she was purchased for A$100,000 by David Ellis CNZM and Fortuna Racing, from the draft of Vinery Stud, at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. 

“There are a few people to thank, but first of all, my very good friend and business associate David Ellis,” Galvin said. “David and I have worked together for 23 years, bought and raced some very horses and it looks like Lara Antipova could be one of the best.

“Thank you to Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson for the way they’ve trained and managed the filly through her first season of racing, to remain unbeaten in four starts and win a Group One is just the ultimate outcome for the filly and her large group of owners. 

“Thank you also to Mick Dee, what can I say. A Kiwi boy, expat, former Te Akau apprentice, and now one of the leading riders in Australia. 

“I’d like to thank all the staff at Te Akau, behind the scenes that have worked with Lara Antipova and helped shape what she has become – you do a wonderful job.”

Lara Antipova is by dual Group One winning sprinter Russian Revolution (Snitzel), Leading First & Second Season Sire in Australia, out of Artistic Lass, who won five races from 1800m – 2200m. 

She is the fourth individual winner for the mare and her first Group One success, including winner of five races Caring Lass (Sebring) and four-time winner Bubbly Lass (More Than Ready). 

Grand-dam Famous Painter (Peintre Celebre) left plenty of stakes’ performers, including Group Two and Group Three winners Sistine Demon (Excites) and Sistine Angel (Testa Rossa), and Group Three placed Themoonlitegambler (Good Journey) and Scully (Shooting To Win). 

The pedigree is further enhanced by third dam Rancheetah (Rancher), who recorded eight wins including a stakes’ win, and among five winners she left Group Two Gallopini (Canny Lad). 

Lara Antipova was strapped by Mahesh Kumar. 

Photo credit - Kenton Wright - www.raceimages.co.nz