Pink hooves and a powerful cause for Three Bridges filly

Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions

Lot 957, a bay filly by Blue Point (Ire) in the draft of Three Bridges Thoroughbreds, has been walking the grounds with her hooves painted pink, a striking visual that has prompted plenty of curiosity from prospective buyers. The colour carries a deeply personal meaning for connections.

For a good cause

“Everybody's been asking why this filly's feet are pink,” Three Bridges' studmaster Toby Liston said. “Most people know Dad had a run of five years where he battled stage four cancer. He had a wonderful doctor called Dr Peter Gibbs who has been really supportive to dad. He's heavy into cancer research and he's looking for funding. What they’re trying to do is have a blood test that can detect 10 different cancers at once. Gary, the other major owner, he also had bone cancer.

“So, we're giving 10% of the overall purchase price, whatever the horse makes, to cancer research. It's going to be fantastic. I’ve had it in the back of my mind for ages and I thought now was the right time.”

In 2018, Peter Liston was diagnosed with bowel cancer, before further cancer was discovered in his pelvis and lungs. Following surgery and radiation, he was able to have a positive outcome and a continued involvement in the running of their family farm south-west of Bendigo.

Liston added that the filly’s pink hooves have been well received, despite some raised eyebrows at first.

“People can be sceptical in racing but once they hear the reason why she has pink hooves, they have been very positive. Sometimes these things have a way of turning into positive stories for everyone involved in the end. It’s all about giving back. It’s just the right thing to do.”

A Blue ribbon pedigree

The daughter of Blue Point is out of Invincible Spirit (Ire) mare Vivette (Ire), and she brings with her a strong international pedigree. Vivette is a half-sister to Halimi (Teofilo), who was Group 3-placed at Meydan, and has already proven herself as a producer, with three foals to race for two winners. Her granddam Vincennes (King’s Best {USA}) was a Group 3 winner in France and a half-sister to Group 1 winner and influential sire Cape Cross (Ire).

Vivette currently has a 2-year-old in work with Tony and Calvin McEvoy named Kaleidoscope (Toronado {Ire}), a $130,000 Magic Millions purchase last year by McEvoy Mitchell Racing and Belmont Bloodstock Agency (FBAA). She also has a colt on the ground by Cylinder and revisited him again last spring.

Liston believes this is a filly who could make a real impact on the track.

“We’ve had good luck with Blue Point in the past,” he said.

“Last year we had Vein Girl who finished fifth in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic and Icarian Dream who went on to win the Group 3 BJ McLachlan Stakes. She’s certainly a filly that could be back here at the race next year and that’d be a pretty cool story.”

Jumping through the hoops

The Blue Point filly is part of an 11-strong draft that Three Bridges Thoroughbreds will offer at this year’s Magic Millions Sale. Liston said the family’s goal is ambitious but clear.

“We have 11 in the draft all up so my goal is to sell 11 from 11,” he said.

“We are pretty excited. It does get a little tougher each year to get the perfect horse that everyone wants - to jump through all those hoops is getting trickier and trickier. We breed race horses and we are bringing them here to sell. We’ve got some lovely colts but our two most popular are Lot 481, a Frankel filly out of Lolloping, and Lot 570, a filly by Night of Thunder out of Mist Moment. They are stealing the limelight - they are world class fillies, so it is pretty exciting.”

Last year, Three Bridges sold seven yearlings at Magic Millions for an average of $232,000, topped by a $600,000 son of I Am Invincible out of Group 2 winner Haut Brion Her (Zoustar), purchased by Sutton Racing and McKeever Bloodstock.

While excited for the sale ahead, Liston also acknowledged the wider challenges facing the community.

“We are all trying to be positive up here but it’s hard when we know people down in Victoria are going through a really tough time with the fires, so our thoughts and prayers are with them. When we get home we will donate, help out and do our best.”

For the Listons, Lot 957 is more than a yearling, her pink hooves carry a message of hope, strength, and giving back.