The ill-fated Atlante sired his first winner at Hastings on Thursday when Callsign Mav took out the NZB Insurance Pearl Series Race (800m). “It was good to get it done, he is still quite green. Once he changed legs with 100m to go he did it nicely,” trainer John Bary said.
Bary, who has fashioned a strong record with juveniles this season, was pleased with his two-year-old heading into the race after a couple of nice jumpout performances. “I was quietly confident,” he said. “I thought he opened up quite short on the tote ($3), but the jumpouts form around him was nice, especially his last jumpout. “He won and beat a nice three-year-old of Guy Lowry‘s that had raceday form, and (he did it) in a nice time. “I think he is my fifth individual two-year-old winner on debut this season. Just going off the other ones I have got that have won and gone well, I was quietly confident.”
Bary has a lot of time for Callsign Mav and is eyeing a tilt at the Group 2 Sacred Falls Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) with his rising three-year-old gelding. “He is just a lovely animal. He is 530kg and has got a great temperament. It’s all ahead of him,” he said. “Speaking with the owner, he’ll be aimed towards the Hawke’s Bay Guineas and we will work backwards on how we get there. “He just needs another couple of runs to get some ringcraft before he steps up with the big boys.”
Atlante also took out the quinella, with another son Riva Capri finishing half a length back in second. The Group 1-winning son of Fastnet Rock stood at Mapperley Stud, near Matamata, for two seasons before his untimely death and his oldest crop are rising three-year-olds.