Expensive filly Akari has begun to live up to her breeding and price tag with a stakes win at her fifth start.
By Snitzel out of Japanese mare Asterix, Akari cost $1.050 million as a yearling and is trained by Brad Widdup for Neil Werrett and Damion Flower who is unable to benefit from her win pending the hearing of drug charges against him.
Ridden by Christian Reith, Akari ($7.50) came from midfield and held off Betcha Flying ($6.50) by a long neck to win Saturday’s Listed Reginald Allen Quality (1400m).
“She was good,” Reith said.
“We were able to get the right run. The pace was good for her and she settled and produced when it counted.”
Hugh Bowman said the runner-up had also gone well but the winner just had more in reserve.
Flower was a major player in Sydney racing until his arrest earlier this year when he was charged with drug importation and refused bail.
He also raced Snitzel and retained a share in the champion stallion but is not allowed to profit from any of his racing interests while the case is ongoing.
Akari’s win came on the undercard to The Everest in which Flower was a slot holder for the first two runnings.
His place was taken this year by Godolphin which won an auction for the spot.
