After a frustrating sequence of five minor placings, Fred Kersley's 6yo Medaglia d'Oro (USA) gelding Cappo d'Oro earned a well-deserved maiden stakes win in Saturday's Listed GA Townton Cup at Ascot, however, he was not the only progeny of the former Darley shuttler to make the news.
He had to share the spotlight with what looks to be a stakes-winner in waiting, Chris Waller's enormously talented 3yo filly Zalatte who ran down the highly-regarded High Chaparral colt Baller in a benchmark 76 over 1400 metres at Rosehill.
Settled back last of the six runners by Jay Ford, Zalatte motored over the final furlong to defeat Baller by a length with Reelem In Ruby (Pierro) a length and a quarter back in third.
Ford compared Zalatte with Unforgotten at a similar stage in their careers.
"The track is quite firm and an advantage to the front end, but we got home in 34.3 and I came from five (lengths) off them, so she's got a motor," Ford said.
"She's very classy. She's similar to when I was riding Unforgotten early, has a lot of ability, very much above average.
"I think she will be better again over a mile. I don't think she will stretch out as far as Unforgotten but with sheer ability, she is not far off the same page."
Zalatte was coming off a career debut win over 1250 metres on the Kensington track on November 22.
Stable representative Charlie Duckworth said it was not originally intended to step the filly up in class so quickly.
"It wasn't the ideal plan to come straight in to a Saturday race off just a maiden win, we thought 1400 metres might be a bit short but she was fantastic, she was very strong through the line, he said.
"She will get a lot further and she has beaten a high-class colt.
"I'm not sure where we will go from here but she is going to be a progressive type following in the footsteps of an Unforgotten or a horse similar to that next preparation – exciting times ahead.
"I would imagine Chris would tip her out for a short time now just to freshen her up and head to the autumn and some of the stakes races. That's what you dream about when you buy into a filly and that dream is still very much alive."
Zalatte (pictured as a yearling) was bred by the Bax family who capped a memorable day with the bargain-priced Mastercraftsman (IRE) mare Danzdanzdance in the Group 1 Captain Cook Stakes at Trentham.
The dam great-granddam
of Danzdanzdance, Soleil Etoile, is also the dam of Zalatte's dam Za Star.
A $300,000 NZB Premier purchase from the Blandford Lodge draft for Kaha Syndicate / Mulcaster Bloodstock, Zalatte is the first winner for Zabeel mare Za Star, who is a half-sister to Group II Japan-New Zealand International Trophy winner Silky Red Boxer (Casual Lies) as well as the stakes-placegetters Gretchen (Bahhare) and Go Go Lightly (Danasinga) and also the dam of the triple Group I winner Lucia Valentina (Savabeel).
Za Star was covered last year by Medaglia d'Oro's Group 1 winning son Astern.
Medaglia D'Oro stood at a fee of $110,000 for his last three seasons in Australia and his final crop are on the ground this spring.
He has seven entries for 2019 Magic Millions and two for Inglis Classic.
