Cover image courtesy of Sportpix
Two-year-old filly Miracle Of Love (Dundeel {NZ}) looks to have inherited some of her mum and dad’s ability, with the impeccably bred filly knocking off her maiden in fine style at the second time of asking.
The Paul Messara-trained Miracle Of Love put the writing on the wall with an impressive debut performance in the Listed Woodlands Plate at Scone on May 13, so it came as no surprise to see her sent off as the $1.65 favourite in Wednesday’s 1350 metre 2YO Mdn H. at Doomben.
After being a touch slow away, the filly enjoyed a lovely run behind the speed. There was a brief scare, however, when, as Jake Bayliss on Miracle Of Love was trying to angle off the rail, Kris Lees’ Bangetta (Hellbent) skipped a couple of lengths at the top straight. That pair settled down to fight out the finish and it was the punters’ elect that prevailed by 0.3l. She stopped the clock in a slick 1:19.75, which is just shy of the class record.
Miracle Of Love is by Dundeel - a six-time top-flight hero and Group 1-producing sire, from the champion mare Miss Finland (Redoute’s Choice) - herself a five-time elite-level victress, who has thrown a Group 1 winner.
The filly was bred Arrowfield Pastoral and Planette Thoroughbred and they race her alongside Alan Jones’ Belford Productions.
Miss Finland when racing | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Arrowfield Stud principal John Messara was pleased with the performance.
“She was a bit unlucky at Scone,” he told TDN AusNZ post-race.
“We felt that she might be worthy of a tilt at one of the black-type races here in Queensland and the way through was to try and break her maiden (at Doomben on Wednesday), which she did ably, so it was very good, we’re very happy.
“If you look past the line, she’s sort of three or four (lengths) in front, so she went through the line very strongly.
“If you look past the line, she’s (Miracle Of Love) sort of three or four (lengths) in front, so she went through the line very strongly.” - John Messara
“She missed the jump; after the jump she was last and had to be niggled a bit to keep in touch. The race didn’t go exactly to plan, but it’s only a maiden and you’ve got to meet a bit of adversity in these maidens.”
Future plans
Given her pedigree, coupled with the way in which she found the line, Miracle Of Love looks to have a mile written all over her. The filly’s sire won the 2013 G1 Randwick Guineas - a 1600-metre race, while her dam - Australia’s Champion 2YO Filly in 2006/07 and Champion 3YO Filly in 2007/08 - triumphed in two Group 1s at the trip - the 2006 Thousand Guineas and the 2007 Australian Guineas.
Miracle Of Love will likely be given the chance to emulate Dundeel and Miss Finland as a 1600-metre Group 1 winner, with Messara confirming the filly will be aimed towards the $1 million JJ Atkins at Eagle Farm on June 10.
“Her breeding suggests 1600 metres won’t be a problem,” he said.
“We’re going to try and head for the JJ Atkins, which is a bit of a task, given it’s her third start, but the fillies get an allowance and she will stay. If she doesn't have any setbacks, we’ll probably have a go at it.
“She’s come naturally (at two), but she might be an Oaks filly for next year.
“She’s (Miracle Of Love) come naturally (at two), but she might be an Oaks filly for next year.” - John Messara
“It’s nice to get that on her CV; she’s now a winning 2-year-old and maybe a stakes-winning 2-year-old. It won’t do her breeding prospects any harm.”
Recent history shows not many fillies have come out on top in the JJ Atkins, with last year’s heroine Sheeza Belter (Gold Standard) the first female to best the males since Linky Dink (NZ) (Keeper) in 2009.
A fabulous family
Miracle Of Love is a half-sister to Stay With Me (Street Cry {Ire}) - a three-time winner who demolished her rivals, including the brilliant Jameka (Myboycharlie {Ire}), in the 2015 G1 Thousand Guineas
Stay With Me | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
The filly is also a half-sibling to the stakes performers Earth Angel (Animal Kingdom {USA}), Bucharest (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and Woodbine (Hussonet {USA}).
The dual Listed victress and Group 2 placegetter Waltz On By (I Am Invincible) also hails from this family.
“The name would tell you the story, we love her mother and this is the miracle of love,” said Messara.
“The name would tell you the story, we love her mother and this is the miracle of love.” - John Messara
“She (Miss Finland) has been wonderful. She’s only got one other to come, she’s got a Dundeel filly coming after this; she’s at home and is about to become a yearling. I don’t think we’re going to breed her again, she’s rising 20 and she’s more than done her job for us.”
Miracle Of Love is Miss Finland’s 10th foal. Her 11th - a colt by Castelvecchio - realised $280,000 at this year’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, with Ottavio Galletta, who raced the sire, buying him from the Arrowfield Stud consignment.
Dundeel continues to deliver
Miracle Of Love continued the rich vein of form for Arrowfield Stud resident Dundeel, becoming the son of High Chaparral’s (Ire) 12th individual 2-year-old winner of the season.
Dundeel (NZ) | Standing at Arrowfield Stud
Dundeel’s juvenile flag-bearer for 2022/23 has been Militarize (NZ), who chalked up two Group 1 successes during the autumn - the Sires’ Produce S. and the Champagne S, while the beautifully bred Townsend - a son of the two-time top-company winner Secret Admirer (Dubawi {Ire}), placed third in the Champagne.
“Dundeel is a rising superstar. His first five Group 1 winners are from decent mares… that’s the lead time it actually takes. The next thing that happens is everybody wants to go there, the good mares come to him and it’s three or four years before you see the effect of it and that’s what’s happening now,” Messara explained.
“His 2-year-olds of this year have been out of really elite mares and his 2-year-olds of next year will be the same, so I’m bracing myself for a very good few years with him now.”
“Dundeel is a rising superstar. His 2-year-olds of this year have been out of really elite mares and his 2-year-olds of next year will be the same, so I’m bracing myself for a very good few years with him now.” - John Messara
I Am Invincible colt shines on debut
Soon after Miracle Of Love notched her first win, the well-related Piercing Arrow got his career off to the perfect start at Warwick Farm.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained 2-year-old was handled by Tim Clark and won the 1200-metre 2-year-old Mdn by 0.8l.
Piercing Arrow is by Australia’s premier sire I Am Invincible, from the Listed victress Silently (Anabaa {USA}), and was bred by Harry Mitchell.
He was offered by Yarraman Park Stud at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, with his trainers and Go Bloodstock going to $1 million.
The colt is raced by a large group of owners, including Go Bloodstock Australia, Yarraman Park Stud, G1G Colts & Breeding and Newgate S F.
“We’re delighted. He made a lot of money and we kept a little share in him, so that’s good,” Yarraman Park Stud’s Mitchell described to TDN AusNZ.
“He’s a big horse and carries plenty of condition, so he’s taken a couple of trials and work to get him ready, but I think he might go on with it.
“He’s (Piercing Arrow) a big horse and carries plenty of condition, so he’s taken a couple of trials and work to get him ready, but I think he might go on with it.” - Harry Mitchell
“The reports from Gai and Adrian were that he got a little bit heavy. They’ve worked their way through it.
“I think next year as a 3-year-old he might be a really nice horse. He looks very genuine to me, he looks like he really wants to do it.”
Piercing Arrow is a half-brother to Muwaary (O'Reilly {NZ}) - a Group 3 victor in South Africa.
The colt’s dam is a half-sister to the Group 1 winners Criterion (NZ) and Comin’ Through (Fastnet Rock), as well as the Group 2 heroine Varenna Miss (Redoute’s Choice).
Piercing Arrow as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
His second dam, Mica’s Pride (Bite The Bullet {USA}), won in Group 3 company and is a sister to the stakes performer Money Begets Money - the dam of the Listed scorer Moqueen (Uncle Mos {USA}), as well as Rose Of Cimmaron - the dam of the Group 3 winner Bull Point and Siege Of Quebec (Fastnet Rock), and Joleur - and she has thrown the Listed winners Bhutane Dane (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), Gaze On (Intergaze) and Upon This Rock (Fastnet Rock).
Piercing Arrow proved too good for Chautauqua’s (Encosta De Lago) three-quarter brother Need Some Luck (Rubick), with Copacabana (Toronado {Ire}) third.
Piercing Arrow’s brother made $180,000 at this year’s Inglis Premier Yearling Sale. Consigned by Yarraman Park Stud, he was knocked down to Portelli Racing.
