Written by Paul Vettise
An association that goes back decades has come up trumps again with the emergence of the Archie Alexander-trained G1 VRC Oaks contender Gamay (Pierro).
She was sold under Brent Gillovic’s Highview banner on behalf of Coolmore at last year’s New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sales where she was purchased by the BBA Ireland and Alexander Racing for NZ$110,000.
Gamay as a yearling
“She was one that Coolmore sent over and most of them go to Gordon Cunningham (at Curraghmore), but they place a few around elsewhere and she was one that we got,” Gillovic said.
“I did a few for them many years ago when they first kicked off. Then we couldn’t really handle too many outside horses, but a couple of years ago I was talking to Michael Kirwan and said if you had a spare horse you want to place for a yearling prep give us a yell.
“We did a Fastnet Rock that made NZ$250,000 the year before we did this filly. It was basically to try and liven up our draft a little bit.”
Late bloomer
Raced by a syndicate that includes Coolmore, Gamay has a strong pedigree, but Gillovic said she always had the appearance of being a later developer.
“She was knocked down to Adrian Nichol of the BBA and while she was a very athletic filly, she was always going to require time.
"While she was a very athletic filly, she was always going to require time. " - Brent Gillovic
“She wasn’t very correct and she was hard work. She was a bit offset in the knees and looked like a time job.
“Unfortunately, we live in a world where everyone wants instant returns and horses that look like they are going to get up and go early.
“It’s easier for trainers to place and the exorbitant costs of keeping horses that need time isn’t for the faint hearted I suppose.”
Listed Twilight Glow S. winner Meidung
Gamay is a daughter of Amish (Canny Lad), who has also produced the Listed Twilight Glow S. winner Meidung (Bernardini {USA}) and the dam of the G2 Moonee Valley Fillies’ Classic winner Banish (Lonhro).
Amish is a half-sister to Pinwheel (Lonhro), who won 12 races including two editions of the G2 Warwick S. and twice at Group 3 level in the Missile S. and the Healy S.
Rapid rise
Gamay broke her maiden three runs back on the synthetic track at Ballarat and then finished runner-up in the Kennedy Oaks Trial at Flemington before going one better with a strong staying performance in Saturday’s G3 Ethereal S.
Should she go on to add the VRC Oaks to her record, it will credit Highview with a third success in the Classic.
“We’ve had Richfield Lady and Gust Of Wind win the Oaks, and while it’s not the same thrill when you’ve bred or reared them on the place, we’d take it.” Gillovic said.
“Gamay came over in September and all the hard yards had been done, we only put the spit and polish on her. It’s not the same as if she was reared on the farm, but good luck to them all.”
