Art Beat Kicks off Season in Style

Westbury's in-from shuttle sire, Captain Rio (pictured), has already continued his fabulous run of success with his six-year-old daughter Art Beat claiming honours in the Group 3 Estaronline 115th Winter Cup over 2100m on Saturday.

Trained by Vanessa & Wayne Hillis, Art Beat has been a consistent performer this preparation and the chestnut mare now boasts three stakes victories on her resume following wins in the Listed Lion Red Plate last October and the Listed Tauranga Classic last June.

Art Beat has recorded prize earnings in excess of $200,000 for her owners Jim Marks, Mr G and Mrs S Bluett. Marks & Bluett are also co-breeders of the mare which makes the success all the more satisfying.

From the two-time winning Peintre Celebre winning mare, Artemesia, Art Beat is the first foal from the mare and is a half-sister to the three time winner Smartly.

Artemesia has a yearling Librettist filly and is due to foal down to Savabeel for the 2012 breeding season.

Coming off the back of a hugely successful 2011/12 season, Captain Rio is showing no signs of slowing down and his book for 2012 has nearly exceeded the number of mares he covered last season.

Captain Rio stands for exceptional value of $7,250 + GST at Westbury Stud with no fee payable until 1 June 2013