Bobby El-Brilliant

 As charismatic as a soap star, Bobby El-issa flashed a wide grin when returning to scale after a confident ride gave him and mount Kalvena the third race at Goulburn on Monday.

The lightly raced, talented and superbly consistent gelding Kalvena came into Pfieffer’s care only five weeks ago, transferring from the stables of disqualified trainer Con Karakatsanis. Now after start four his record reads two wins, a second and a third.

Jumping from the outside gate, Kalvena has a clean getaway and showed natural early speed to be tempted to press forward, before El-issa eased the gelding back behind the leading pair Halliday Road and Gay Skier. Kalvena stretched and wanted to push on with freshness on his side, with El-issa opting to let him slide forward approaching the turn and be fully balanced when straightening up. Urged along to account for Halliday Road, the pair quickly put paid to the rest of the field passing the 300m mark but it was Kalvena who prevailed under hands and heels riding by a head on the line.

“He would have been terribly unlucky not to have won with the wide gate forcing him to be caught deep before the turn, but El-issa gave him his head and let him amble up to the leader, and to the horse’s credit he fought well” said Pfieffer.

Kalvena might not be able to create headlines from a win at Goulburn and probably won’t be a stakes performer, but his tenacity and evident will to win will keep the son of Magic Albert in the winner’s stall throughout his blossoming career.

“He’s only a lightly raced galloper but he has natural speed and a great attitude, so he gave my team a great first impression from the get-go” complemented Pfieffer.

Having his first official outing for the new stable in a trial at headquarters on the 24 March, Kalvena kept finding the line and his recovery suggested a strong first-up performance was on the cards.

“His trial was very good and his work during the week was even better, giving my rider a great feel in his gallops. When he was loaded on the float to Goulburn he looked great but importantly I knew he was very fit and ready giving me every confidence he would be going very close”.

El-issa was busy sharing his win on Twitter and Facebook with hashtags and emoticons, congratulating the team on another winning combination.

“BOOOM ... 'KALVENA' salutes .. nice horse in the making , good to get another winner for the David Pfieffer camp.... ! #winner”

The modestly bred Kalvena is the second foal of the Arena mare Kvarena, who has two other named foals in Kurnel Jaxon and De Kurnell - both by the former Arrowfield sire All American. There could be more success in the wings for the mare, with a colt foal by emerging super sire So You Think on the ground and a 2YO in waiting by the brilliant Camelot.

Kurnel Jaxon, De Kurnell and Kalvena are bred, owned and raced by McGrath Racing, who also have Damagic, Damit and Magicaz in work with Pfieffer to make an impressive team of gallopers to carry the blue and red silks.

The win sent a positive vibe through the stables on a chilly Monday afternoon, complimenting the incredible team that work tirelessly each day at Warwick Farm regardless of the forecast.

Just the following day Team Pfieffer were responsible for another winner, coming at the right time after the disappointing scratching of Denmagic in the Sapphire Stakes at Randwick due to the poorly rated heavy 8 surface.

Lieutenant Dan hit the ground running in the opener at Gosford on Tuesday, burning around the bend to win the 1000m event in one minute flat.

The gelding didn’t make it an easy watch for connections and was tempted to run out when under pressure, with Angland swinging the whip in his right hand and steering the rein to the left.

“I tried to get him onto his fresh leg and he was inclined to hang out which means you aren’t making up any ground” commented Angland.

“He did jump well and I was happy where I was...so it was good to get a win and hopefully with a few more runs he will mature up nicely and be winning more races”.

JOCKEY TYE ANGLAND

Stable representative Glenn Thompson joined in praising the gelding following the race, and was quick to congratulate the entire Pfieffer team for their patience with Dan.

“He did all the work in the race, and he’s come back in good shape, (thanks to) a good effort by Dave and the team to get him up and winning first up” said Thompson.

Lieutenant Dan, a son of Arrowfield’s gun young sire Smart Missile, is the first living foal of the Anabaa mare Anadan, a daughter of the G1 Adelaide Cup hero Demerger. Anadan has also produced a three-quarter brother to Lieutenant Dan in Misty Lad (Redoute’s Choice) who was precocious enough to run in last year’s 2YO Breeder’s Plate. Pfieffer purchased Lieutenant Dan at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sales for $70,000 and had the gelding up and running early into his 2YO career. Injury struck soon after, and the big bay was forced to the sidelines for six months.

“He unfortunately did a suspensory (ligament) and was immediately spelled, so it has been a slow process of rehabilitation for him that has paid off at last” commented Pfieffer.

“We swum him a lot and eased him back into full work, so after a wonderful effort from my team we were able to get a fit, sound horse to the races who grabbed an important win at the provincials.

“He’s on the way up and has a great group of owners excited to see how far he takes them”.