Dropping back to a mile after a couple of disappointing efforts earlier this summer, POTAPOVA (Invincible Spirit) put up a career best display to land the Gr.3 Atalanta Stakes at Sandown. The four-year-old filly was held up in rear by Richard Kingscote before sweeping past the field in the final two furlong to win in commanding fashion for Sir Michael Stoute. Potapova is a record fourth winner of the race for her owner-breeeder Cheveley Park Stud, joining the likes of subsequent Gr.1 winners Integral (2013), Persuasive (2016) and Veracious (2018).
Potapova is the top performer out of the Listed-placed mare SAFINA (Pivotal), who is a daughter of the multiple Gr.1 winner Russian Rhythm. Pivotal continues to excel as a broodmare sire with recent Pattern winners out of his daughters also including G2W Noble Style (Kingman) and G3W Zechariah (Nathaniel). Safina has a yearling filly by Frankel and a colt foal by Wootton Bassett.