Alverta Gives the Spur 12 G1 winners and Messara his first
Saturday, March 20, is a day that young trainer Paul Messara will never forget when his fathers’ mare, Alverta, won the Group I Coolmore Classic at Rosehill. Alverta has a special spot in the young trainer’s heart, the chestnut was his first city winner, his first stakes winner, now a six-year-old his first Group I winner.
Perfectly ridden by Tye Angland, who claimed his second win at the elite level, Alverta jumped quickly in the TAD Kennedy Stakes (registered name ) and settled well in fourth spot behind Gold Water to the turn. Dashing clear at the top of straight, Alverta delivered the knockout blow at the furlong, to stride away for the history-making win for the son and father combination.
Gold Water (Choisir – Float by Devils Bag) was brave in claiming the runners-up cheque, while the race favourite, Palacio de Cristal (Encosta de Lago – Crystal Palace by Palace Music) bombed the start and did a huge job to grab third.
“All the way through she’s been the stable star,” Messara told TVN. While the winning rider paid credit to Messara’s handling of Alverta.
“All credit goes to Paul,” he said. “Everything worked out perfect.”
Alverta has now won eight of her 35 starts and is the 12th winner at the elite level for her sire, Flying Spur, who was raced by Messara’s father, John, and stands at the families’ famous stud, whose colours, Alverta wore on Saturday.
Alverta was offered at the 2005 William Inglis Easter yearling sale where she was passed in at $20,000, off a reserve of $100,000.
Alverta had two sheets of x-ray issues – so no one wanted her.
“I took her home and broke her in and then we had another couple of goes at selling her – luckly she stayed with me. “Then last spring she didn’t go into foal when she had a date with Charge Forward, in fact, Dad accused me of just leading her straight through the mating shed!” he said with a huge smile on his face.
Out of the imported mare Grilse (by Rahy), Alverta has increased her value many times over as she hails from a very successful international family and is the second stakes winner the mare. The other being Revolte (by French Deputy) winner of the Singapore Stewards Cup (Sin-G3).
The great-grandam, It’s In The Air (by Mr Prospector), was the winner of five Grade 1 events in America. While a daughter, Note Musicale, is another that’s produced winners at the highest level in America, Music Note (by A P Indy) and Musical Chimes (by In Excess).
Since Flying Spur retired to stud, he has produced a consistent type and his stock reflect his quality and this in turn is reflected in his stud record. With a dozen winners at the highest level amongst his 73 stakes winners and another 51 stakesplacegetters from his 647 individual winners, from less than a 1,000 runners with earnings of more than $82million.
The triple group one winning son of Danehill is well respesented at the forthcoming Inglis Easter yearling sale, to be held at Newmarket from April 6-8th, with 55 yearlings catalogued for sale.
Source: Michele Cullen, Stallions Daily Bulleti
