La Traviata Scores Impressive Debut Stakes Win

23rd July 2007

Exciting young sire Johannesburg looks to have a new star on the horizon in the shape of brilliant three year-old filly La Traviata (3f Johannesburg - Pedras Negras, by Unbridled), who notched her first stakes success in the Post Deb Stakes over five and a half furlongs at Monmouth on Sunday.

Making her second appearance after scoring a facile 13 length win on debut at Churchill Downs on June 8, La Traviata was always handy and motored away over the last furlong to win by five lengths.

Trained by Patrick Biancone for Michael Tabor, Mrs John Magnier and Derrick Smith, La Traviata caught the eye of respected publication Thoroughbred Daily News after her debut win and was named a ‘TDN Rising Star’, a tag well justified it would now seem.

La Traviata was purchased By Demi O’Byrne for $1.1 million at the 2006 Fasig-Tipton Calder Select 2YO’s in Training Sale making her the most expensive filly sold at that sale.

Bred by J and M Antonelli, La Traviata is the first foal of the Unbridled mare Piedras Negras, an unraced half-sister to Group Three winner Jack Sullivan from the stakes-winning Devil’s Bag mare Provisions.

She is somewhat of a sale ring veteran having made $75,000 as a weanling at the 2004 Keeneland November Sale and then $112,000 at the Fasig-Tipton July Yearling Sale in 2005 before her star turn at the two year old s in training sale.

La Traviata is the ninth stakes-winner worldwide for former champion two year-old Johannesburg, who is the second leading second crop sire in North America and shares the lead by individual winners in Australia on the first season sires table.

Johannesburg commands a fee of $65,000 at Ashford Stud and is available to Australian breeders this spring at $A33,000.