Botica's initial success with horses was in harness racing and included racing Sundons Gift, the New Zealand bred trotter who is in the Inter Dominion Hall Of Fame, Take A Moment and Mister DG, while on the thoroughbred front he has enjoyed highlights with such smart gallopers such as Moatize, who gave him a crack at the Melbourne Cup (sixth behind Viewed), and Leading Bid.
Now it's smart two-year-old filly Astara who is providing him with the latest highlights.
Botica not only bred and races Astara, he also owns her sire, Dalghar, who
stands at Brighthill Farm at Tauwhare (on the outskirts of Hamilton) and it has
been a case of thrill upon thrill for the Perth businessman with the talented
youngster.Astara became the first winner for Dalghar in New Zealand, joining the successful list which consists of four winners in Europe during his sole season standing in France. And, even more importantly, Astara is now the first stakes winner for his sire.
Astara started favourite in the Listed Auckland Co-op Taxis Champagne Stakes at Ellerslie on Saturday and after being taken to the front by rider Sam Collett she was far too strong for her rivals, scoring by a length and three-quarters from Eleonora.
"I'm expecting Neven to ring any moment," said Astara's co-trainer, Donna Logan when being interviewed after the decisive win.
Logan wasn't surprised to see Astara win like she did and was full of praise for the ride of jockey Sam Collett.
"I told Sam beforehand the winning of the race was to jump out, get the lead, stack them up and go as slow as you can and try and get a split on the turn and make them chase you," said Logan. "She rode her perfectly."
When Astara slipped clear early in the run home it was obvious she had the race in safe keeping. Eleonora ran on strongly for second, a length ahead of Family Secret, who had been third most of the way, while Quantum made ground for fourth.
Logan is confident Botica is in store for many more highlights with Astara.
"She has stepped up and stepped up and I think she's going to be a better three-year-old than a two-year-old," she said. "She's very tough."
Collett has been Astara's regular rider and she was impressed with the filly.
"She's got the will to win," said Collett. "She's got the ringcraft on her side and she's so tough." – NZ Racing Desk.
