La Tene toughs out first-up Caulfield win

Godolphin’s La Tene has rediscovered her best form to win the Angus Armanasco Stakes at Caulfield.

Godolphin trainer James Cummings has praised the toughness of La Tene after her first-up victory in the Angus Armanasco Stakes at Caulfield.

How far that toughness will carry La Tene through an autumn campaign Cummings remains to be seen, but the filly is now a dual stakes winner following Saturday’s Group Two win over 1400m.

Ridden by Brad Rawiller, La Tene ($18) held off the fast closing Lady Lupino ($11) by a half head with Lunar Light ($11) 1-1/4 lengths away third.

La Tene lowered the colours of Dalasan to land her first stakes win in the VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Flemington last March.

“She didn’t quite come up last preparation so we did the right thing and put her away and that patience has been rewarded,” Cummings said.

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A number of options are available for La Tene with Cummings said a return to Flemington next month for the Group Two Kewney Stakes was a possibility.

Depending on La Tene’s performance in that 1600m race, Cummings said he may consider sending the filly to Adelaide for the Group One Australasian Oaks (2000m) at Morphettville in May.

“She’s a three-year-old filly that could be well suited to Adelaide if I can prolong her preparation and at this stage she is showing she is enjoying it,” Cummings said.

“She’s versatile and she might not prove to get the distance, but one thing she has on her side is toughness.”

Runner-up Lady Lupino has incurred an automatic three-month ban after bleeding from both nostrils during the race.