From 11 starts, this is Vespa's sixth win and can now claim four stakes wins in total. He won the $1m Karaka Million and the Group 1 Diamond Stakes as a two-year-old prior to winning Listed Westbury Stud Challenge Stakes at his first start this season. He then went to Australia, taking on their best during the Melbourne Spring Carnival.
He returned to racing in New Zealand with a second placing just three weeks ago at Otaki for trainer Johno Benner.
"It was a very good win," commented Benner. "It was a good thrill to get him back to his best. It has been a bit frustrating with a lot of bad luck in Australia and a bit of a weird result the other day when he got beaten in the three-year-old race but it's good to just see him back to his best.
"Mark (Du Plessis) thinks 1600m isn't going to be an issue for him [Vespa] and he has a bright future.
"I am unsure on where he [Vespa] will race next, there are a few options but I will wait a bit before making a decision at the end of the week."
Beginning from barrier 3, Mark Du Plessis rode Vespa to be mid-field and sitting to the outside of No Tricks (NZ) (Savabeel) who travelled on the rail. The race-favourite Passing Shot (NZ) (Swiss Ace) set the pace from the start while the Elusive City colt swung out wide on the corner in an attempt to catch him.
Vespa sprinted down the centre of the track and challenged Passing Shot in the final moments to narrowly take victory by a nose, Passing Shot was second over the line and Star O'Fraaj (NZ) (Iffraaj) came in two-and-a-quarter lengths away in third place.
Saturday's victory took Vespa's earnings to $795,088 for owners Chris Rutten & John Norwood.
Cavallo Agistment Centre, operated by Rutten and Norwood, purchased Vespa at the 2013 Karaka Select Sale for $34,000 from Kevin Hickman's Valachi Downs.
The three-year-old colt was bred by Hickman and is out of Miss Avalon (Fantastic Light), a half-sister to a stakes winner Toruk Macto (Authorized) and stakes placegetter Direhorse (Bushranger).
NZB Release
