Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
The Annabel Neasham Racing Stiletto Sprinters concept aims to draw more women into racing, to give them a taste of racehorse ownership, along with plenty of fun and entertainment off the track too.
The filly Smart Vengeance was bought at last year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale for $70,000 from the draft of Twin Hills Stud, and with Kathy O’Hara aboard, makes for the perfect combination for a first taste of that for the group of about 75 ladies in the Widden S. at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
But before the big race, syndicate organiser Annabel Neasham Racing Sales and Marketing Manager Alix Turpin said there was a bit of Friday fun to be had as part of the Stiletto Sprinters' package.
Smart Vengeance as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“Myself and Annabel put the syndicate together and we used Mitchell Bloodstock to find the fillies,’’ said Turpin. “What we did was we bought two fillies from Magics and then packaged them up to do a two-year campaign with them.
“We all went for lunch on Friday in Manly with all the girls from the syndicate to have a pre-race get together and most will be on track on Saturday.’’
Smart trackwork
Smart Vengeance, by Smart Missile out of Bernardini (USA) mare Erinys, goes into the Widden S. on the back of some strong trackwork, including a hitout alongside Mo’unga (NZ) (Savabeel) on Tuesday.
Alix Turpin | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
“She got to the Gimcrack Trials, so she was in the first set of the 2-year-old trials but we decided to pull up stumps there and aim her for more autumn targets,’’ Turpin said.
“Her last two pieces of work have been really strong. She worked with Mo'unga on Tuesday and she did a really solid piece of work. She’s a very honest filly, she’s pretty tough so it will be good to see her come out again on Saturday.’’
While the right jockey for the horse is always the plan, O’Hara proved hard to look past for the first of the Stiletto Sprinters' runners.
"She (Smart Vengeance) worked with Mo'unga on Tuesday and she did a really solid piece of work. She’s a very honest filly, she’s pretty tough so it will be good to see her come out again on Saturday.’’ - Alix Turpin
“It definitely gives it a nice angle. Obviously, we’ll always pick the jockey that’s best suited to the horse but Kathy is very good with her hands, she’s a superb rider and she seems to fit well with this filly and it just makes it even nicer… female trainer, female jockey and female owners,’’ said Turpin.
Mumbai Jewel contests
Stablemate Mumbai Jewel (I Am Invincible), who ran fifth in the G3 Gimcrack S. won by Coolangatta (Written Tycoon), also lines up in the Widden S.
“Mumbai Jewel is obviously a very quality filly. She was one that Annabel was keen to keep and bring out in the autumn, so we’re excited about her as well,’’ said Turpin. “She’s a big filly. Very strong type and just has a lovely temperament to her too.’’
Spanish influence
Written Tycoon filly, Estilete, is the other filly purchased for the Stiletto Sprinters' syndicate. At a price of $250,000, she was also bought at Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale last year, coming from the Mill Park Stud draft.
Estilete as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“She’s a very, very nice type who will be a bit more of a 3-year-old,'' Turpin said. “She’s actually gone out to the paddock for a bit of a spell. She’s called Estilete, which means stiletto in Spanish, because her dam is called Pasadoble.’’
Turpin expected the Stiletto Sprinters' syndicate to be refreshed every two years. In a separate project, Annabel Neasham Racing works in conjunction with former mounting yard analyst Lizzie Jelfs on her Race With Lizzie program that has the same desire to draw more women into racing.
“Stiletto Sprinters is a very good entry level to get ladies involved. It’s a one-off payment. You pay your one fee and that’s it for the two years,’’ Turpin said. “We want to start making a bit more awareness about it and keep rolling with it.
“Stiletto Sprinters is a very good entry level to get ladies involved (in racing). It’s a one-off payment. You pay your one fee and that’s it for the two years.’’ - Alix Turpin
“Race With Lizzie is obviously something that we’re keen to be involved in also to get ladies into racing and getting them to enjoy all the benefits that ownership can bring. Lizzie’s obviously very good at that side of it herself and she’s very well connected to people who might not be aware of what actually owning a horse looks like."