The Chis Waller-trained Giovanna Run defied a worrying betting drift to open her winning account over 1400 metres on the Kensington track at Randwick on Saturday to credit her sire Press Statement with his fifth winner.
Sporting the silks carried by both her sire and dam, the Tony Muollo homebred, was given a positive ride by Tommy Berry who overcame a wide barrier by taking up the running.
Despite coming under attack over the final 200 metres Giovanna Run continued to find enough to hold on for a win over the Smart Missile gelding Bazooka with Kermadec filly Montefilia making up plenty of ground to be a further back in third.
Making her third start, Giovanna Run was coming off a close-up second over 1150m on the same track on July 1.
Berry said the daughter of Press Statement would definitely prefer to be ridden with some cover
“I just thought I was on the best horse in the race. That was the way to ride her today,” Berry said.
“She doesn’t know what she is doing yet. She stills wants to get on that one rein like she did with James (McDonald) last start.
“I loved the way that in the last 80 metres when I got a bit of pressure she started to lift for me. It shows she is still a bit immature at this stage.
“She will go on with it this prep, but I think the best will come at her next preparation.”
“She is a nice progressive horse by Press Statement who we had a lot to do and think highly of and I think she is a very talented filly.
“She wasn’t quite strong enough in her first prep but she will be as a three-year-old and I can’t wait for her career to unfold.”
Purchased by Ben Thompson for $120,000 out of the Vinery Stud draft at the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Giovanna Run is the second winner from three to race out of the three times Brisbane winner Giovanna Bella whose dam Hula Lei (Sir Tristram) is a sister to Group III winner Morven Warrior and a three-quarter sister to dual Group 1 winner love Dance (Kaapstad) and stakes-winner Sir Midas.
Giovanna Bella has a yearling Press Statement colt named California Press and a weanling filly by Press Statement.
She was covered by More Than Ready (USA) last spring.
Winner of the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas and Group III JJ Atkins Classic, Press Statement (Hinchinbrook) will stand for a fee of $13,750 at Vinery Stud in the forthcoming season.