Written by Keely Mckitterick
Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Mornington-based horseman Jason Warren looked to have a smart prospect on hands when his 2-year-old filly Flyer (Exceedance) burst through a gap late to deny the Godolphin runner Last Druid (Brazen Beau) success in Race 3 at Sandown-Lakeside.
Finishing strongly in the 1200-metre maiden was the Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Barbaric Lad (Brutal {NZ}).
It was an impressive performance from the debutante and lone filly in the event. Warren indicated the Rosemont Stud and Brett Chapman-owned Flyer could now head towards the G1 Blue Diamond at the end of the month.
“We’ll give her every chance to get to the Blue Diamond, that’s our plan,” Warren told Racing.com post-race.
“We ideally wanted to have one run into the main race. She’s done all that she’s had to do.”
“We ideally wanted to have one run into the main race. She’s (Flyer) done all that she’s had to do.” - Jason Warren
Warren revealed that Flyer had been compared to her Group 3-winning sister Treasurway in the early days of her brief career.
“As much as we like Treasurway, she’s got a bit of an awkward action. Whereas Flyer has a very neat, economical action and we’ve liked her all the way through.
“She’s improving and the bigger track here today (Wednesday), the chance to balance up, I thought was perfect and well worth waiting for.
“Dan Stackhouse (jockey) has done a terrific job and really earned his riding fee there. He’s gone where angels fear to tread through a very narrow gap.”
Jason Warren | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Flyer is the third individual winner from eight runners for Vinery Stud’s first-season sire Exceedance. The G1 Coolmore Stud S. winner has made a fabulous start to his career with his son Dublin Down already prevailing in the G3 Maribyrnong Plate at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day.
Rosemont Stud and Chapman bred the daughter of Exceedance and have retained the ownership.
The filly is the second foal from the Toorak Toff mare Miss Toorak Flyer. She won four races up to 1200 metres. Flyer is a half-sister to Treasurway (Starspangledbanner), who was victorious as a 2-year-old in the G3 Breeders’ S.
Flyer | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Treasurway also finished third in the G3 Thoroughbred Breeders’ S. and the Listed Furphy Trophy.
Other notable members of this family include the 11-time winner Secret Flyer (Secret Savings {USA}), who prevailed in the Listed Kensington S. and the Listed Sir John Monash S.
While Luvaluva (NZ) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) won six races, including the G2 Wakeful S. and the G3 Adrian Knox S. the daughter of Mastercraftman (Ire) was also Group 1-placed.
Luvaluva is a half-sister to Brandenburg (NZ) (Burgundy {NZ}), who won the G2 Hobartville S. and was placed in the G1 Doncaster H., the G1 Randwick Guineas and the G1 Doomben Cup.
Snowden quinella at Warwick Farm
Wednesday’s juvenile event at Warwick Farm saw the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained stable to the fore, with the Randwick-based trainers providing the quinella in the 2-year-old 1300-metre maiden.
Tommy Berry partnered Waterville (Menari), to defeat her stablemate the short-priced Evenflow (Super Seth). Meanwhile, the Clarry Conners-trained Okami Star (Justify {USA}) finished third in the field of seven 2-year-olds.
Co-trainer Paul Snowden told Sky Racing post-race, “Waterville has always been a lovely filly from day one. She’s a big, imposing, lump of a girl. Waterville has some size about her, and no doubt she will improve massively fitness-wise from this race.
“Her race manners are very on point maturity-wise. The mental aspect is all there; it is just a matter of her body catching up with her mind to make the full package.
“I think she will appreciate a little further distance in time.”
Snowden also touched on the effort from the second-placed Evenflow, “I thought the colt was great. He was back-up from last Wednesday.
Peter and Paul Snowden | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“He narrowly got beaten on the line, and I think he will come quite a lot in from this race.”
Waterville was bred by Codds Flat Bloodstock and was not offered for public auction. The filly is by the late Menari, who initially stood at Newgate Farm but fertility troubles saw him transferred to his breeders’ property Corumbene Stud.
Trained by Gerald Ryan, Menari showed stacks of ability scoring victories in the G2 Run to the Rose and the Listed The Rosebud.
Waterville is the first foal from the Dissident mare Turncoats, who is a granddaughter of Ateates (Zeditave). She won six races, including the G2 Silver Shadow S. and the G2 Expressway S.
Waterville wins the 2-year-old 1300-metre maiden | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Ateates was also placed in the G1 Goodwood H. and finished fourth in the G1 The Galaxy and the G1 TJ Smith S.
At stud, Ateates is the dam of the brilliant Elite Street (Street Boss {USA}), a victor of the G1 Winterbottom S. and nine other races.
Ateates has been served by a number of Newgate Farm-based sires. She has a yearling by Tassort and foaled a colt, by Tiger Of Malay, in August. Ateates was served by In The Congo but missed before being covered by Russian Revolution.
