River Night Wins Redoute’s Choice Stakes

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River Night

River Night could head to Sydney for the Percy Sykes Stakes after snapping a frustrating city run for the Mathew and Simon Zahra stable with victory in the Redoute's Choice Stakes at .

River Night's success in Saturday's Listed 1000m race for two-year-olds gave the Ellerton and Zahra team its first city victory since early January which has been followed by a number of placings.

Included among the recent placings has been Zoutori and Crystal Dreamer running second and third respectively in last month's Group One Oakleigh Plate while , and River Night have also had stakes placings during that period.

River Night, ridden by , finished third on debut in the Listed Merson Cooper Stakes last spring and after being unplaced in her return from a spell in the she went into Saturday off another stakes placing when second to in a Listed race at on February 29.

With Damian Lane aboard, River Night ($3.50) controlled Saturday's race from the front in a field of five and defeated Masseuse by a length with Celestial Sol another 1-1/4 lengths away third.

“It's a well- win. It's good not to run second,” Ellerton said.

“First-up was a blip on the radar but she might have had a few excuses. And every run to date has been great.

“She's done a really good job today and I'm sure she's got a bit of improvement in her, just naturally and physically.

“It's onwards and upwards for her.”

River Night is nominated for the $1 million Group Two Percy Sykes Stakes (1200m) for two-year-old fillies at next month.

“We'll let the dust settle today and see how she gets through it,” Ellerton said.

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