Cover image courtesy of Sportpix
The Curtis stable has a different look about it this season, but there is plenty of excitement around what lies ahead. With a number of the older horses having moved on, the classy headline act is Modella who has big aims, Cherie Curtis gives TTR the background of their new and promising team.
There are still some established performers to keep an eye on, none more so than the talented Modella (Castelvecchio), who has lucrative Group-race aspirations this spring, while Sumac (Farnan) heads into the G2 Tea Rose Stakes this weekend with bigger targets in mind, including a potential G1 Victorian Oaks campaign.
Behind them, a promising group of 2-year-olds and 3-year-olds is starting to provide plenty of encouragement and gives the stable genuine reason for optimism as it begins the next phase of its story.
Lee and Cherie Curtis | Image courtesy of John Tapp Racing
3-year-olds
Sumac, 3-year-old filly (Farnan x Banda Spice {Show A Heart})
“She races in the Tea Rose Stakes this Saturday and we have the aim of progressing her to a Flight Stakes, and eventually a Victorian Oaks.
“It may be a bit short for her this weekend, she probably wants a mile already. She ran in Group company as a 2-year-old and was a bit unlucky at times.
“Last time out in a good maiden she didn’t have a lot of luck, it was a good run and she has trained on nicely.”
Global Light, 3-year-old filly (Lucky Vega (Ire) x Global Insight {Exceed And Excel})
“She is a lovely filly, we think she is pretty smart and is the first horse we have had for Yulong, so we would love to have some success with her.
She has just come back into work. She won a trial very nicely in July at Rosehill, but we decided to consolidate the win and give her a little break while there was nice mild weather around.
“She is exciting.”
Mildrith, 3-year-old filly (Lucky Vega (Ire) x Queen Iseult {Fastnet Rock})
“Mildrith is a really nice horse by the same sire as Global Light in Lucky Vega. She keeps on progressing and Regan Bayliss has a good opinion of her.
“She is having a little spell, she is similar to Global Light in terms of taking it softly with them, little breaks will help her, you have to look after them.”
Star Of Malay, 3-year-old filly (Tiger Of Malay x Unguarded {Trusting})
“She is quite a nippy filly that we quite like by Tiger Of Malay, she will trial this preparation.”
Stormin', 3-year-old colt (Acrobat x Wooshka {Written Tycoon})
“He won two trials very impressively and then went to the races and pulled up shinny. He is back now and we think he is quite fast.
“We think he goes alright so we will look after him.”
Think And Act, 3-year-old gelding (So You Think (NZ) x Movie Role {Trusting})
“He is a nice boy by So You Think. He has taken a bit of time but he is on a really nice progressive curve right now.
“He is going very well and improving all the time.”
Unnamed, 3-year-old gelding (Yes Yes Yes x Beylando {Fastnet Rock})
“He is a full-brother to a 4-year-old that has won two-from-two, he will trial in about a month, he goes really good.”
Gallery: Lee and Cherie Curtis 3-year-olds
Older horses
Modella, 5-year-old mare (Castelvecchio x Ms Rodarte {I Am Invincible})
“Modella is going very well since her win in the Mona Lisa Stakes.
“She is going to run next Saturday in the Golden Pendant where Zac Lloyd will ride again, we were quite keen on going to The Tibbie at Newcastle. But while the Golden Pendant will be strong, we prefer the three weeks gap, compared to the two weeks gap as she can be a bit busy between races.
“We have no real major grand final with her as there are just so many good options, so we will play it by ear a little bit.
“I would love to draw a decent gate in a good race as she is a bit notorious for drawing poor ones.”
Flightcrew, 6-year-old mare (Epaulette x Corsaire {Anabaa {USA}})
“We are really happy with her, she ran great first-up. She is tough, honest and always gives her best.
“She is no star but she is very consistent.”
Gallery: Lee and Cherie Curtis older horses
2-year-olds
Yanomami, 2-year-old colt (Anamoe x Lasqueti Spirit {Beneteau})
“He is by Anamoe out of our star mare Lasqueti Spirit. He is in work now, he looks a real Derby horse of the future. He is tall, long and has a really big stride.
"We won't rush him. He will need time but there is something about him and he has plenty of quality.”
Kekerengu, 2-year-old filly (Pierro x Meryl {Epaulette})
“She is an exciting one for the future and is well-bred being out of Meryl.”
Unnamed, 2-year-old filly (D’Argento x Spiced Delight {Gingerbread Man})
“She is lovely, she has been broken in and is currently in pre-training, but is a lovely filly.”
Unnamed, 2-year-old colt (Russian Revolution x Queen Of Dubai {Pride Of Dubai})
“He has been broken in, he hasn't done that much but he has had a look around the stable and looks a nice horse.”
Gallery: Lee and Cherie Curtis 2-year-olds
