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Robusto adds black-type to record in Metropolitan Trophy Handicap

Having taken the Te Awamutu Cup (2100m) on her most recent, the Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained Robusto (6 m ex Adriatico by Stravinsky) continued her good form in the Metropolitan Trophy Handicap (Listed, 2500m) at Riccarton on Saturday and in so doing became stakes winner number 13 for Grangewilliam Stud-based sire Zed (Zabeel). 

The mare showed plenty of fight to comfortably repel the challenges of topweight Who Dares Wins (Iffraaj), eventually beating him by a length, while The Good Fight (High Chaparral) was another nose away in third. 

Forsman said after the race the mare would now press on to next week’s New Zealand Cup (Gr 3, 3200m).

“It was a different kettle of fish for her today as it was a big field of promising stayers on a big roomy track,” Andrew Forsman said.

“She did it really well, was strong through the line and I thought she looked the winner a long way out.

“She will back-up in the New Zealand Cup now as she is a good doer and has really matured in this preparation.

“Just the way she handled herself today, she was really relaxed and is turning into a real racehorse.

“She’s a stakes winner now and a very valuable breeding proposition.”

Robusto is raced by her breeders, John, Mark and Rachel Carter, under their Jomara Bloodstock banner and she is one of three winners out of Adriatico (Stravinsky), making her a sister to Group 2-placed Bobby Dee. 

The mare’s third dam is Group 3 winner Aminata (Glenstal) and she produced 11 winners, headed by fellow Group 3 scorer Swift Gulliver (Gulch) and Listed winner Abderian (Machiavellian), while further back the mare shares a page with Grade 1 winner Kitten’s Dumplings (Kitten’s Joy). 

Robusto’s Tivaci (Tavistock) half-sister was purchased by Breeze-Up Bloodstock for $140,000 at the 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka National Yearling Sale, before being snapped up by Bevan Smith for $180,000 at last month’s Inglis Ready To Race Sale, while the mare foaled a colt by Tavistock in 2019. 

Zed’s progeny is headed by multiple Group 1 winner Verry Elleegant, whose six Group 1 wins is headed by her victory in this season’s Caulfield Cup (Gr 1, 2400m).