Juvenile summary: Lucky Vega filly lays down the Law

Cover image courtesy of Sportpix

Lucky Vega filly lays down the Law in Nursery

Bjorn Baker’s Within The Law (Lucky Vega {Ire}) doubled up on her blacktype with a resounding victory at Randwick in the R. Listed Inglis Nursery on Saturday. The 2-year-old daughter of Yulong Stud’s shuttle stallion Lucky Vega (Ire) repeated her debut performance from the R. Listed Inglis Banner last month to pull 0.34l ahead of Cobra Club (Cool Aza Beel {NZ}), who handed his sire a first blacktype placing on debut.

“It has been a good week, and a great job by Bjorn and Darby (Racing) and the team to find these races,” Baker’s racing manager Luke Hilton said. Owner Darby Racing Syndications also own runner-up Cobra Club, who is trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.

“We sent her to Melbourne the first time and had to travel, and she got away with it down there and did a really good job. She has done nothing but improve since she has come home. That was a really tough win today because she is not very big, but she showed a lot of heart.”

Hilton indicated that the G1 Golden Slipper S. would be on Within The Law’s agenda in the new year. Retired Darby Racing galloper She Will Reign (Manhattan Rain) took out the Inglis Nursery on her way to her slipper win.

“We’ll have to have a good think about it,” Hilton said. “The world is her oyster at the moment. She is still improving all the time and she is such an honest filly. She handles everything and has been so professional.

“She is not one who stands out at home, but she has taken everything we have thrown at her.”

A $30,000 buy for Darby Racing from Yulong’s Inglis Classic Yearling Sale draft, Within The Law is the first foal from Dundeel (NZ) mare Contract Signed, whose dam So Much Joy (Red Ransom) is a half-sister to eight-time winner and G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen-winning Sterling City (Nadeem) and G2 Tulloch S. winner Tipungwuti (Fusaichi Pegasus {USA}). Her dam, multiple Group-winning So Gorgeous (Brief Truce {USA}), is a half-sister to 10-time winner Wild Queen (Loup Savage {USA}), granddam of Godolphin hero Kementari (Lonhro).

Contract Signed has a yearling full brother to Within The Law, and was covered by Lucky Vega again this spring.

Gallery: Images courtesy of Sportpix

Classic victory for Yeomans’s first yearling

It was a particularly special debutante victory for Lucy Yeomans, one half of the training team for Invincible Woman (I Am Invincible), as the filly was the first yearling that she bought at the sales when she joined Lloyd Kennewell on the training ticket. Rapidly sold to an all-female ownership group that includes Lizzie Jelfs and Yeomans herself, the filly won both of her official jump-outs prior to Saturday’s debut, before storming home by 2.75l to win the $250,000 Magic Millions VIC 2YO Classic at Caulfield Heath.

“She was the first one through the ring,” Yeomans said. “She actually got passed-in, and we were very quick to run out the back and purchase her.

“Lloyd's had some all-women's horses in the past, but hadn't had much luck, and I said, 'Come on, we need to spend more money this year now that you've got a female co-trainer.’ We've got her for a steal now, it seems!”

Yeomans confirmed that the Magic Millions 2YO Classic is next on the filly’s agenda - with the added bonus of being eligible for the lucrative $500,000 Women’s Bonus, split between the first four all-female-owned horses across the line.

Gallery: Images courtesy of The Image Is Everything

“They've all banded together and kicked the boys out, so it's all girls in this one!” she said. “There's obviously a good bonus, and even without the bonus, it's a prestigious race to win, but we'll be guided by her, (we will) see how she comes through it.

“We don't just think she's a 2-year-old. We think she's got a bright future and is a progressive filly, so we're not going to force the issue if she's not telling us she wants to go.”

Bred by Killora Stud, Invincible Woman was a $250,000 purchase for her trainers, Group 1 Bloodstock (FBAA) and Race With Lizzie out of Widden Stud’s draft at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. She becomes the third winner from three runners for dual Listed-placed Showcase (Big Brown {USA}), a half-sister to G3 Guvera S. winner Disposition (Reset), who placed three times at Group 1 level. Their dam Test Case (Testa Rossa) is a winning sister to 10-time winner Local Legend (Rory’s Jester), out of G1 Goodwood H. winner Spectrum (Old Spice). Showcase missed last season, then delivered a colt by In The Congo this spring.

Victory is sweet at Te Rapa for Greene

Victory was sweet for local trainer David Greene and debutante Sweet Ice (NZ) (Frosted {USA}) at Te Rapa on Saturday, as the 2-year-old gelding charged to a 1.8l victory in the opening $65,000 juvenile contest on the card. Placed in two trial outings, the son of former Darley shuttler Frosted (USA) sat up front for most of the trip, guided home by Sam Spratt despite wavering in the home straight. Curzon Park (NZ) (Ribchester {Ire}) and Towering Vision (NZ) (Circus Maximus {Ire}) fought out the placings.

“It’s good to win on my favourite day of the year,” said Greene. “We’ve never really asked too much of him, although he has always appeared as a well above (average) athlete.

“He still has a few things to learn, as you could see, but he is a talent. It was a field of 2-year-olds going past big screens and the like, while it can get a bit lonely out there in front on your own, so he might have been looking for his friends (when wobbling in the home straight).”

Greene indicated that the Karaka Millions 2YO at Ellerslie had firmed as a possible target for the gelding next month.

“I didn’t think he was really a Karaka Million type of horse this year, however the owners won’t let me get away with not having a crack at that race now,” he added.

Bred by Pencarrow Thoroughbreds, Sweet Ice was purchased by his trainer for NZ$55,000 at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale, after he initially did not make his reserve. He is the third winner for Listed-placed Deliciano (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}), herself a daughter of G2 Great Northern Guineas winner Santagostino (Giant’s Causeway {USA}), a half-sister of G1 New Zealand Oaks victress Vapour Trail (NZ) (Jetball). Deliciano was covered by Rubick last spring.

Pierata son goes Bang at Mackay

Son of Yulong Stud-based Pierata, Tom Button-trained Bang Stick made it two wins in a row at the Mackay track on Saturday, beating Nosey Neo (Neorealism {Jpn}) by 1.27l in the first race on the card. With Bolla Bolla Babe (Sensei) in third, Bang Stick replicated the same trifecta from his last start in November.

Bred by Heinrich Bloodstock Syndicate and a $10,000 purchase for his trainer from Amarina Farm at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Bang Stick is the first runner for winning Sidereus mare Cabin Fever, who also finished fourth in the G3 Ken Russell Memorial Classic and Listed Oxlade S.. Her half-sister Euro Belle (Eurozone) was placed in the Listed Mode Plate in between five wins.

The family also features the late Champion 3YO Colt Riff Rocket (American Pharaoh {USA}) and Listed Cap d'Antibes S. winner Wayupinthesky (Snitzel). Cabin Fever has a yearling full brother to Bang Stick, and visited Cosmic Force this spring.