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The Live Sport Bible is here!Per Incanto youngsters continue to shine
Paul Vettise, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk • May 18th, 2026 3:52 pm
Incandescent winning the Listed Champagne Stakes (1600m). Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)
Little Avondale Stud’s resident stallion Per Incanto has turned back the clock this season with the farm stalwart’s younger offspring doing him proud.
The Masterton nursery enjoyed further juvenile success on Saturday when homebred youngster Incandescent triumphed in the Listed Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Ellerslie.
“Per Incanto has had four black-type two-year-olds this year, as we know he’s never really been known as a sire of two-year-olds except for his first crop,” Williams said.
The resident son of Street Cry has also been represented by Listed Maribyrnong Trial Stakes (1000m) winner Eurocanto, while Oak Lightning ran second in the Listed Redoute’s Choice Stakes (1200m) and Spellbound was third in the Listed Challenge Stakes (1100m).
Spellbound’s stablemate Incandescent had previously finished runner-up in the Listed Waikato Veterinary Equine Centre Stakes (1400m) and was sold by Little Avondale for $200,000 at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale at Karaka.
He is the first foal of the Snitzel mare Saint Katarina, who was successful on two occasions and was a private purchase off friend Dean Harvey, of Victoria’s Baystone Farm.
“I’m trying to get another daughter of Snitzel at the moment, I’ve always liked the Snitzel cross with the Street Cry blood,” Williams said.
“Incandescent was always an athletic horse and neatly balanced with a lovely walk. He was a real workmanlike type.”
James believes there is plenty more to come from the gelding when he returns from a winter break.
“When you looked at him in the parade, you could see he is still a little immature. That was his last run, and he will come back stronger,” he said.
Saint Katarina didn’t get in foal in her first year at Little Avondale before producing Incandescent and unfortunately last year she had a stillborn colt to Per Incanto.
She’s currently in foal to Per Incanto’s son Little Brose and therefore carrying a three-quarter brother or sister to Incandescent.
“If she has a filly, we’ll more than likely retain it. It’s the beautiful Eight Carat family and the mare will be going back to Per Incanto this year,” Williams said.
Saint Katarina is a half-sister to the Group Three winners Saint Encosta, Sheer Talent and Kittens, with more recent black type form added by sprinter Illicit Dreams, a two-time winner at Listed level.
Their fourth dam Great Klaire is a half-sister to the legendary Eight Carat.
