Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions
La Bella Boom (Spirit Of Boom) showed excellent composure to salute by a comfortable 2.45l in the Gold Pearl 2YO Fillies sprint over 1100 metres at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday, biding her time behind runaway leader Rainbow Glow (Snitzel) before pouncing at the 100-metre mark.
And according to Sledmere Stud co-owner Catriona Murphy, the promising filly showed similarly strong mental traits while being raised on her farm in Scone.
Royston and Catriona Murphy | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Murphy added there was nothing asked of La Bella Boom that she couldn’t do, attributes which helped give her $10 winning odds for the 2025 R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic over 1200 metres this Saturday.
“She had a great attitude, and we were able to do anything and everything with her. That goes a long way,” she told The Thoroughbred Report.
“Having a good demeanour and temperament are what carry these horses early.
“She (La Bella Boom) had a great attitude, and we were able to do anything and everything with her. Having a good demeanour and temperament are what carry these horses early.” - Catriona Murphy
“To have that attitude plays a big role in getting them up early and presenting themselves at the races.”
Murphy said expectations were high that La Bella Boom would make strong initial impressions on the track in the manner which she has done, with Saturday’s victory on the Sunshine Coast her second from three starts for Champion Trainer Tony Gollan.
“It was very impressive, and it was really dominant,” she said of the Strawberry Hill Stud-bred filly.
“Obviously, she had a lot of class and presence about her when we offered her at sale.
“She was very athletic and very forward. We expected her to step up early as a 2-year-old, and she’s delivered that.
“It was great for Ciaron (Maher, co-owner) and the team.”
Murphy said Sledmere Stud’s sale of La Bella Boom for $300,000 to Gollan Racing, John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA) and Black Soil Bloodstock at last year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale was an excellent result for her team.
“That was a fantastic result. To be able to get a good return like that was exciting for us after offering her as a vendor, and for her owners at the time,” she said.
La Bella Boom as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Spirit Of Boom's cracking foals
La Bella Boom’s sire Spirit Of Boom has produced 455 victors from 634 runners at an outstanding winning rate of 72 per cent, making his covering fee of $38,500 (inc GST) extremely attractive. The Eureka Stud stallion has seen strong demand for his foals, consistently covering between 130 and 180 mares in each of the past four seasons.
At that price and with his consistent number of winners, Murphy said the Champion Queensland Stallion was one of the best-value sires going around at the moment.
Spirit Of Boom | Standing at Eureka Stud
“He’s a bread-and-butter horse, and he gets a lot of winners. He gets great results in the sales ring, so he’s a bit of an all-rounder,” she said.
“Early (winning) horses can come from his 2-year-olds, which is great.”
La Bella Boom’s dam, La Girl (Not A Single Doubt), has started her career well, with Saturday’s victory being her first winner from her first runner.
Yulong will be offering a St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) colt out of La Girl as Lot 576 in the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Lot 576 - St Mark's Basilica (Fr) x La Girl (colt) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Sledmere's 2025 draft brims with quality options
Sledmere Stud will offer a total of 26 yearlings at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, from January 7-13.
Among that impressive draft are progeny from in-demand sires Proisir, Tassort, Bivouac, Home Affairs, Written Tycoon, Farnan, Russian Revolution, Wootton Bassett (GB) and Stay Inside.
“It (having 26 yearlings for sale) is fantastic, and you want to see these horses be sold well, but then they need to go on and do the job,” Murphy said.
“To have horses step out before Christmas and leading into Magic Millions, it’s very good for our brand and what we’re presenting at the sales.
“To have horses step out before Christmas and leading into Magic Millions, it’s very good for our brand and what we’re presenting at the sales.” - Catriona Murphy
“(The key to success is) just hard work, dedication and surrounding yourself with the right people, and producing good strong, quality, sound horses.”
Murphy noted that Sledmere’s draft featured standout lots, including a Tassort filly, Lot 19, from The Seductress (Snitzel), a Proisir filly, Lot 16, from The Fairy’s Kiss (Elusive Quality {USA}), and the Written Tycoon colt, Lot 107, from You Hadme At Hello (Not A Single Doubt).
Gallery: Some of the standout yearlings being offered by Sledmere Stud at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, images courtesy of Magic Millions
“We’ve got a Tassort filly who’s outstanding. She’s getting a lot of attention,” Murphy said. “She presents herself very well. We’ve also got a Proisir filly, and a Written Tycoon colt.
“They’re three very nice horses that will be our standouts.”
