Crystal Bound will open her 3-year-old campaign at Flemington on Saturday in a mouth-watering edition of the Listed Cap d’Antibes S. after a brief, but successful 2-year-old preparation from her trainers’ Caulfield base.
She belied her double figure starting price at Moonee Valley to canter home by 6l on debut from He’s Xceptional (Xtravagant {NZ}), who was successful last month in the Listed McKenzie S., and then beat all but subsequent G2 Furious S. winner Jamaea (Headwater) in the G2 Percy Sykes S.
Crystal Bound was bred by Peter Carrick’s Noorilim Park, who made the wise decision to remain involved in the ownership group after she was knocked down for $400,000 to Maher at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Crystal Bound as a yearling
She has a rich pedigree as the daughter of the winning Zabeel (NZ) mare Crystalised (NZ), who is a half-sister to the dual Group 1 winner Zarita (NZ) (Pentire {GB}), the G2 Concorde H. winner Runs Like The Wind (NZ) (Pins) and the G3 Al Quoz Sprint winner Joyful And Fun (NZ) (Cullen).
“She was one of the better foals we bred and she was a lovely yearling. We loved the stallion and didn’t enjoy the day when he was retired because we had a bit of luck with him,” said Carrick’s son and Noorilim Business Manager Glen.
“Crystal Bound seems to have come back well and we’re looking forward to this weekend. Hopefully, she can do the job for us. Ciaron would like to go down the same path as Loving Gaby and maybe aim toward the Manikato, she would get in with a light weight of 51kg.”
“Ciaron would like to go down the same path as Loving Gaby and maybe aim toward the Manikato, she would get in with a light weight of 51kg.” – Glen Carrick
Loving Gaby (I Am Invincible) was an outstanding filly and won the G1 Manikato S. as a 3-year-old before she placed at the top level in the Lightning S. and Newmarket H. and then added the G1 William Reid S. to her exemplary record.
“I would think Crystal Bound would stick to the sprint races. It depends on her first-up run, but all going well she’s likely to go to the Manikato,” Carrick said.
The majority of Noorilim’s partners in Crystal Bound are clients of Maher and Eustace.
Loving Gaby (white cap)
Another Crystal
“Campbell Stott is the managing owner and has come into a couple of other horses with us, including Crystal Bound’s half-sister Crystal Dynasty,” Carrick said.
Four-Year-Old Crystal Dynasty (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) made two appearances last season and is ready to open her spring campaign in the near future.
“She has taken a bit more time, being by Tavistock. Hopefully, she can string a few runs together this prep and get her maiden out of the way,” Carrick said.
Crystalised, the dam of Crystal Bound and Crystal Dynasty, will visit Golden Slipper winner and Kia Ora first-season sire Farnan in the near future.
“She’s (Crystalised) booked to Farnan this breeding season so that will produce a close relation to Crystal Bound.” - Glen Carrick
“She’s booked to Farnan this breeding season so that will produce a close relation to Crystal Bound. She was in foal to The Autumn Sun, but unfortunately slipped this year,” Carrick said.
“She’s got a really nice Impending filly on the ground, which will be heading to the sales next year. She’s probably one of our better foals on the farm.”
Special filly
Noorilim’s main selling action in 2021 was played out at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale where its top lot was an Exceed And Excel filly out of Special Lover (NZ) (Pins) who was purchased for $300,000 by Gelagotis Racing, James Bester and the Osher Group.
Exceed And Excel filly x Special Lover (NZ) (filly)
“We sold mainly at the Premier Sale this year. We didn’t head up to Magics, we didn’t really have the right stock and with COVID we decided to stay put,” Carrick said.
Noorilim will be breeding from 13 of its own mares this season, including Special Lover, who hails from the legendary Eight Carat (GB) (Pieces Of Eight {Ire}) dynasty.
“We’re sending Special Lover to Farnan as well to continue down the Not A Single Doubt-line,” Carrick said. “She has an I Am Invincible inside her and is due to foal at the end of the month so we’re hoping for another nice foal from her.”
“We’re sending Special Lover to Farnan as well to continue down the Not A Single Doubt-line.” - Glen Carrick
Special Lover's first foal Easy Single (Not A Single Doubt), who was bought by Maher for $240,000 at the Gold Coast, won at Swan Hill on Friday, his second victory from four appearances.
Also at the top end of the broodmare band is Rock The Sea (Fastnet Rock), whose first serve last year was to Written Tycoon and she is out of a half-sister to the G2 Reisling S. winner Hips Don’t Lie (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA}).
“She didn’t make it on the track due to a few injuries, but she’s got a nice pedigree,” Carrick said. “Minaj was empty and was served this week by Flying Artie.”
Minaj (NZ) (Commands) won five races, including the William Crockett S. and the Redelva S. at Listed level and is a daughter of the North American black-type winner Ms Seneca Rock (USA) (Seneca Jones {USA}).
“The farm will be foaling down 90 mares in total this year so it’s a very busy time for us,” Carrick said.
