Promising colt Ravello has opened his spring campaign in fine style to confirm plans for upcoming stakes targets.We raised and sold the son of Savabeel on behalf of breeder Max Whitby and his resuming victory over 1400 metres at Kembla Grange was the second of his four-start career.With two trials to ready him for his return, Ravello was given an ideal run in behind the pace and he finished off well in the run home with an effort that augurs well for the rest of his preparation.Trainer John O’Shea said the colt would be better over more ground and the three-year-old will step up to 1600 metres next time out in the Listed Dulcify Stakes with the G1 Spring Champion Stakes over 2000 metres likely to be his grand final.Ravello was purchased out of our New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sale draft by bloodstock agent Bruce Perry for $425,000.He is the first foal of the American-bred stakes performer Cover Charge, a daughter of Take Charge Indy with multiple Group 1 winners and influential sires Street Cry and Shamardal the headline acts in the pedigree. We also sold Ravello’s brother at Karaka earlier this year with trainer Bjorn Baker and agent Jim Clarke signing the ticket at $220,000.

By Joshua Smith, LOVERACING.NZ News DeskRoger James was resigned to defeat when legging jockey Warren Kennedy aboard Apostrophe at Hastings on Saturday, so he was pleasantly surprised to be greeting them at the winner’s stall following the Worlds Best Sprinter – Lucky Sweynesse Premier (1400m).While pleased with the mare heading into the race, the Cambridge conditioner thought she had too much to overcome, having drawn the outside gate in the 12-horse field and was lumbered with 60 kilograms.To script, Apostrophe settled at the rear of the field for Kennedy and the pair had a wall of horses in front of them when turning for home. Kennedy elected to stick to the inside and was able to find a passage between horses where Apostrophe was able to dash through and snare a long head victory over Electric Time.James was left in awe of his mare and the talent of his rider.“It was a great effort first-up,” said James, who trains in partnership with Robert Wellwood. “Originally, we were going to claim four off her back and then the rider got hurt and we had the option of putting Warren on with 60 kilos. When I legged him up I said, ‘unfortunately I don’t think she can win’. “He steered her beautifully, saved ground and all credit to the mare, it was a top effort.”Kennedy was also left in amazement of the six-year-old’s performance.“It was a really fantastic win from her,” he said. “Carrying 60 and drawn the widest, we got back and she was sitting last. She just motored on through them, I couldn’t get the gaps quickly enough, she was running on so quickly.“It was a really good win, that was outstanding.”Apostrophe has now won five and placed in three of her 13 starts, and black-type targets are now awaiting the daughter of Tavistock.The six-year-old was bred by Greg Perry and purchased by her trainers as a yearling from Cambridge Stud's draft at New Zealand Bloodstock's 2019 Karaka Book 1 Yearling Sale.“We have always thought that she was a black-type performer in the making,” James said. “She has had a few niggles soundness-wise, but if we can keep her in one piece, I think we can have a lot of fun.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

A rejuvenated Young Werther has posted consecutive victories following a determined effort to score over 2040 metres at Moonee Valley.The Cambridge Stud graduate broke a lengthy barren spell when he won last time out at Flemington in July and, with his confidence sky high, the Danny O’Brien-trained son of Tavistock doubled up in the hands of Billy Egan.Young Werther settled well in the trail and took advantage of a run along the fence at the top of the straight to power to the line under 61.5kg.“It’s great for the owners who have been really patient with him and to go back-to-back is terrific for the stable as well,” stable representative Jack Howard said.“Billy made the right decision to stay on the rail and this horse just seems to run for him.”While Young Werther has won only three of his 24 starts, he has performed to the top level with a runner-up finish in the G1 Australian Derby, a third in the G1 VRC Derby and placings in two editions of the G1 Turnbull Stakes.“We’ll see how he does and if he comes through this well then he’ll be in the Turnbull again in four weeks,” Howard said.Young Werther was a $140,000 Karaka purchase and is a brother to the multiple winner Villaden and half-brother to the stakes-placed Romantic Lady.Their dam is the winning Fastnet Rock mare Romantic Time, she has a yearling by Savabeel and is due to foal this season to Almanzor.