Written by Georgie Dennis
Talented mare Villami (Foxwedge) kicked off her spring campaign in fine fashion as she produced a tough performance to take out the 1000 metre Vinery H. at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
The Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou-trained mare led the trip and was changed by fellow talented mare California Zimbol (I Am Invincible) in the straight but dug deep to hold on and win by 0.2l, with the James Cummings-trained Pandemic (Sepoy) coming home a further 2l away in third.
“I’ve have a lot of time for her,” Ryan said. “She’s got to strengthen up a bit and she’ll get further.
“The way she has been going at home, I think she’ll run a good 1200 metres this time around but her best asset is her gate speed, she’s very quick early and as long as she gets firm footing, she’s hard to beat.”
Ryan said he hasn’t made any official plans going forward for Villami but he said the G2 Furphy Sprint over 1100 metres at Flemington on October 31 could be on the cards for her.
“There’s a nice race at Flemington on Derby Day and there’s also a mare’s race at Randwick on the 24th so she’ll either go to Randwick or go down to Flemington,” the co-trainer said.
Winning jockey Tim Clark said he was pleased with the way Villami fought out the finish and said he thinks she is well up to contesting the stakes sprints for mares.
“She showed good speed like she always does but normally she runs her opposition into the ground but she’s not really one to get into a fight because she’s normally burnt them off,” Clark said. “I thought when Kerrin (McEvoy) challenged me, for her to dig in and show that fight was good to see from her.
“She’s obviously always been a talented filly and she went close in a couple of stakes races last year after winning first-up, it was nice to see her back in good order.
“Obviously it’s only a midweek meeting but it was a good race and she’s up to them 1100 metre races so down in Melbourne could be a good option for her.”
Villami as a yearling
Villami was purchased by Ryan for $425,000 at the 2018 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the Cressfield draft and she is one of eight winners from eight foals to race out of dual Group 3 winner Galapagos Girl (Dehere {USA}).
Galapagos Girl is a half-sister to Procrastinate (Jade Hunter {USA}) who is responsible for multiple South African Grade 1 winner Laisserfaire (Danehill {USA}), Group 1 sire Time Thief and stakes winners Foreplay (Danehill {USA}), Personify (Galileo {Ire}) and A Time For Julia (Redoute’s Choice). Further back this is also the family of G1 Goodwood H. winner Lone Rock (Fasnet Rock).
Impressive win for Waterhouse and Bott filly
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Only Mine (Smart Missile) shed her maiden tag in style as she took out the Tab Long May We Play Plate at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
Bred and raced by Gooree Park, the 3-year-old filly lead from point to post and ran away from her rivals to score by 3.8l at her fifth career start.
Bott said he was pleased to see Only Mine win in such impressive fashion having always shown ability on the track without bringing it to race day prior to Wednesday.
“That was the strong performance we were hoping to see from her today,” Bott said. “We’ve always thought she’s been a well above average filly.
"She didn’t handle the heavy track first-up and we’re still a little bit unsure what brought her undone last start, but today with the blinkers on and the tempo of a 1400 metre race just allowed her to find a better rhythm and dictate the race and it was really pleasing to see her put in a performance like that.”
As for where she will head next, Bott wasn’t sure but he does believe she is good enough to head towards a race late in the spring carnival.
“As I said, we’ve always thought she’s had plenty of upside so I think there’s plenty of options for her and hopefully we’ll be able to find her something late in the carnival,” he said.
Jockey Brenton Avdulla echoed Bott’s opinion in saying Only Mine is a smart filly.
“She was on the march going to the gates which I thought was a positive sign for her because from all reports by Tim (Clark), she’s always shown good ability at home but hasn’t performed on race day so I really feel the blinkers have done their job and the 1400 tempo really suited her,” Avdulla said.
“She’s certainly got upside and hopefully she can take a bit of confidence out of today but she’s a metropolitan winner now and these Gooree horses are always a pleasure to ride.
“They’re tough and they breed some really good horses.”
