South Island-based first season sire Ghibellines was represented by his first winner at Wingatui on December 14.
The John and Karen Parsons-trained El Gladiador showed good speed over 820 metres to hold off some strong late finishers.
The son of Shamardal was also placed in the Listed Canonbury Stakes as a 2YO and the G2 Danehill Stakes at three.
His dam Camarilla (Elusive Quality) won the G1 AJC Sires’ Produce Stakes and also is the dam of four-time G1 winner Guelph (Exceed And Excel) and the G3 winner Encryption (Lonhro).Camarilla is a daughter of Danehill’s G1 Queensland Derby winner Camarena and is related to the Golden Slipper winner and successful sire Sepoy (Elusive Quality).
El Gladiador is the sixth foal of Querella, a four-time winner by Haafiz. She is also the dam of the stakes placed Querer (Captain Rio).Ghibellines stands at White Robe Lodge on a fee of $5,000.