A perennial bridesmaid that ran third in the Group I ATC Flight Stakes last spring, the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained Vancouver mare Vangelic found it was her turn to shine at Rosehill on Saturday scoring a bold front running win in the Group II ATC Gold Pendant (1400m).
Drawn in gate one, she was well rated in front by Tim Clark and controlled the race throughout scoring a neck win over So You think mare Nimalee.
“The connections have been so patient with her. She was a consistent filly without winning. She was thoroughly deserving of that so glad to see it," said Adrian Bott, who will target the mare towards the new $2million ATC Invitation at Randwick on October 23.
“We would love an Invitation. That was the plan to come here today. We thought this would be the nice race second up where she could improve and try to win and we thought today was crucial in getting that invitation.”
Purchased by her trainers for $400,000 out of the Segenhoe Stud draft at the Gold Coast, Vangelic was bred by Segenhoe and is the fourth foal and third winner out of the multiple stakes-placed Pins mare Angel Bee, a half-sister to the stakes-placegetters O’Angel and Turnstiles out of the Group III winning Zabeel mare Zabeels Angel.
Angel Bee tragically died last year after producing a colt by Written Tycoon.
With two wins and five placings from 14 starts, Vangelic has won over $624,000 and is the sixth stakes-winner for Vancouver, who stands at Coolmore this spring at a fee of just $22,000.
