Written by Paul Vettise
Flying filly Mildred (Hinchinbrook) was a relatively cheap buy and she’s quickly showed a great return on the investment for her connections who have enjoyed Group 1 2-year-old success in recent times.
The youngster was a $45,000 purchase for former top trainer Neville Begg at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale and is now two for two after winning on debut and producing a repeat performance at Flemington in the Listed Darley Maribyrnong Trial S.
Begg bought Mildred out of Middlebrook Valley Lodge’s draft and she’s trained for him and his partners by son Grahame with jockey Jordan Childs completing the triumvirate that had such a great ride with Written By (Written Tycoon).
He was the champion 2-year-old colt of the 2017/18 season after winning the G1 Blue Diamond S. and a subsequent deal was struck last year for him to make his way to Widden Stud.
Mildred has a long way to go to get to Written By’s level, but she can only win and Saturday’s performance was a smooth one. She flew the gates to lead and never looked in any danger of defeat from that point.
“Well done to Dad. He hung around to buy her at the sales and I thought she’d be too much money for what he wanted to spend,” Grahame Begg said. “He really liked her and he said I want to buy this filly and he snaffled her.”
“Well done to Dad. He hung around to buy her at the sales and I thought she’d be too much money for what he wanted to spend.” - Grahame Begg
Mildred is a daughter of Tempest Tost (Statue Of Liberty {USA}), who won the Magic Millions 3YO Trophy, and she is a half-sister to the G1 Salinger S. winner Notoire (Export Prince {Fr}). It’s also the family of the multiple stakes winner Happy Hippy (Shamardal {USA}).
“She’s been so professional right through and we didn’t actually have this race on our target list,” Begg said.
Mildred as a yearling
“We put her in and when we saw there were only a few entries we thought we’ll have a good look at this. She was very fit and didn’t have to do much work leading into it.
“She’d had a run up the straight 10 days ago and that was going to take her a long way. The cards fell her way and Jordan gave her a great ride.”
“She’d had a run up the straight 10 days ago and that was going to take her a long way. The cards fell her way and Jordan gave her a great ride.” – Grahame Begg
Begg has yet to confirm Mildred’s immediate programme, but the filly’s affinity with Flemington might sway him into a return.
“We’ll let her tell us where we’re at and she’s obviously eligible for the Inglis Banner at Moonee Valley,” he said. “That’s a consideration, but hey, why not wait for the Maribyrnong Plate, she’s two for two up the straight here.”
Childs said as soon as Mildred had stepped the gates to take control he knew he was on to a good thing.
Jockey Jordan Childs
“She’s a real professional and having had a race start down the straight here she was always going to be competitive. Once she jumped and went straight to the front I was always confident of winning.”
Jerle (Exceed And Excel) chased in vain for second and Boom Daddy (Spirit Of Boom) made ground along the fence to take third off Divine Caprice (Sebring).
