Tarcoola Stud owners Ken Williams and Ken Biggins unearthed another galloper with Group potential at Mornington on Wednesday.

They bred up-and-coming colt Staviva who snared his first metro win in Orbit Fitness Hcp (1200m) on Wednesday.  “He’s a lovely horse who has always shown a lot of ability,” trainer Matt Laurie said.  “If we do the right thing, he can pick up some good wins but I think we will bypass the Caulfield Guineas.”

Instead, Staviva will head to the LR Poseidon Stakes (1400m) on October 4 and G3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) – both at Flemington – followed by the G2 Sandown Guineas (1600m).

“Long-term, he’s more of a miler,” Laurie predicted.  “Allowing him to run-on is best at this stage.”

Staviva (3g Encosta De Lago – Vivacious Spirit by Bel Esprit) had won first-up at Moe prior to a last-to-first victory at Mornington.  “He’s heading in the right direction,” jockey Ben Melham said.  “There was a bit of depth in that race today and he put them away comfortably.”

Tarcoola Stud is based on the Mornington peninsula and Staviva was a $75,000 graduate from its consignment at the 2013 Inglis Melbourne Premier.  He is a brother to the Tarcoola bred filly Costa Viva who won the G1 NZ 1000 Guineas twelve months ago.

Williams and Biggins raced their dam Vivacious Spirit to a Group 3 victory in the 2008 How Now Stakes at Caulfield before she retired to their at Tuerong  nursery.

Tarcoola Stud was named Victorian 2011 Small Breeder of the Year thanks to G1 Doncaster Mile winner Sacred Choice.