Viva on Song

The Informant reports:

Jason Bridgman will be offering no excuses on the score of fitness if Costa Viva doesn't carry on her winning way at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.

The Encosta de Lago filly produced a winning trial at Cambridge since her defeat of Bounding in the Gr. 1 NZ Bloodstock 1000 Guineas at Riccarton on November 16 and is poised to start favourite in the Gr. 2 $100,000 Cambridge Stud Eight Carat Classic.

“She's had a perfect preparation and there'll be no excuses if she doesn't win, provided she gets her chance in the running,” said Bridgman. “The big thing is the others have got to come up to her and she's got to hold her position. She's the benchmark for the others after winning the Group One.”

Costa Viva has been beaten just once in four starts and that defeat came second-up when she finished solidly for second to Bounding in the Gr. 3 Hawke's Bay Breeders Gold Trail Stakes at Hastings on September 21.

She then headed south and beat her stablemate Chambord in the Listed Ray Coupland Stakes at Ashburton, form which stacked up well when Chambord followed up with a second to Atlante in the Gr. 1 Sothys NZ 2000 Guineas at Riccarton.

Costa Viva outgunned a very game Bounding at Riccarton and Bridgman believes she should have no problems coping with Ellerslie for the first time. “Her style of racing should see her better at Ellerslie than Riccarton,” he said. “It's a lot more tactical at Ellerslie and should suit a filly like her.”

Costa Viva will be entered for the Gr. 2 NZ Bloodstock Royal Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie on New Year's Day. “There's a chance she could back up but we'll just see how she does next week,” said Bridgman. “If she does run it and go well she will get to the Sir Tristram Fillies' Classic at Te Rapa then we'll decide where to go. It's no given yet that she'll run in the Oaks.”

Bridgman has a strong second string in the Eight Carat Classic in the form of Flirty Gertey, who followed a debut second at Gisborne with wins at Paeroa and Ellerslie. Her last-start performance over 1400 metres suggested she would appreciate the 1600 metres next Thursday.

“She's a different type to Costa Viva,” said Bridgman. “She's leaner and quite scopey and looks an Oaks type. The Eight Carat will be a good yardstick for her. The distance should suit her at this stage.”