Albany galloper Cousin Ivan notches brilliant Aquanita Stakes win handing former Albany resident and trainer Holly Taylor along connections a first listed victory

It was a landmark moment for Cousin Ivan and his connections, including trainer Holly Taylor, on Saturday at Belmont Park. Albany galloper Cousin Ivan upstaged his rivals to win the listed $100,000 Aquanita Stakes (2000m) at just his fourth career start. The result gave Taylor, a former Albany resident, her biggest triumph yet in a short but promising career while owner-breeders Grant Gibbs and Annette Crump were track side to watch their first listed winner. It doubled as Taylor’s first winner at a Saturday metropolitan meeting, and was just her 18th metro starter since she began training in 2018. Cousin Ivan won impressively on debut and then ran a strong fourth last start over 1600m before relishing the rise in distance in the 3YO feature race. The Fiorente gelding, out of dam Chong Nonsi, raced wide throughout before jockey Alan Kennedy sent him three-wide nearing the home corner. Kennedy got to work in the home straight as Cousin Ivan responded well to grab the lead inside the final 100m to hold off Marocchino and short-priced favourite Uncle Dick to win by half a length. Taylor said it was a dream come true to win a black-type race. “I didn’t have any goals of winning a Listed race at this stage, but to win one first-up is amazing,” she said. “I’ve always wanted to win a Listed race but wasn’t planning on it being this early in my career. “I was quite overwhelmed after the race and it still hasn’t really sunk in yet. “After his last start at 1600m, he was looking for further ground and I was confident he would get the trip. “I gave Alan one instruction and that was to get clear running at the top of the straight. “I knew if he got clear running he would sprint home well, and Alan did everything right and the horse did the rest.” Taylor said it was delightful to have Crump and Gibbs on course to share the experience and confirmed the rising star would now head for a spell. “He will be sent for a spell now; it’s only his first preparation and he has done an enormous job getting to where he has,” Taylor said “He loves a bit of ground, so I think he could be a nice cup horse maybe next season and maybe a Perth Cup horse in the future.” The Steve Wolfe-trained Eurasia ran a strong fourth to Cousin Ivan, stepping up to the staying trip for the first time. Reuniting with top jockey Paul Harvey, the gelding settled midfield in running before finishing just over a length behind the winner.