Santangelo proved she was up to the very best sprinting three-year-olds in New Zealand when she scored in the Legacy Lodge 1200 at Te Rapa on Waikato Guineas Day.

She anticipated the start of the race brilliantly in the hands of Michael Walker who quickly found the rail and began to settle the filly. Santangelo (Lonhro – Lucky Be Lucky, by Storm Cat) raced comfortably one back on the fence behind race leader and favourite Raid (Pins), a filly good enough to run second in the Group 1 Diamond Stakes at two, and then capture the Listed Rotorua RC Lion Red Plate this season against older mares.

Around the home bend Walker angled the black filly out to challenge Raid who gave her customary best all the way down the straight but Santangelo just had too much class, scoring by one and a quarter lengths from Raid in a sizzling time of 1.09.55.

The Pencarrow bred and owned filly looks to have a seriously bright future given the win was her second from just three starts. Her trainer Mark Walker will now aim her for the Cambridge JC Breeders Stakes for three-year-old fillies over 1200m on 25 April.

Santangelo’s dam Lucky Be Lucky is by Champion USA stallion Storm Cat from a strong North American family that features Group 1 winning two-year-old Love Lock (Silver Ghost), a half sister to Lucky Be Lucky. Pencarrow bred Lucky be Lucky to Pentire this season after she foaled a Darci Brahma filly in early August.