Eleven Eleven Wins $150,000 Christmas Classic

Tara Madgwick - Friday January 1

Champion sire Fastnet Rock was on fire in New Zealand on New Year’s Day and also at home where his Magic Millions contender Eleven Eleven powered clear to win the $150,000 ATC Christmas Classic (1200m) at Canterbury.

Trained by Greg Hickman and ridden by Keagan Latham, Eleven Eleven was happy to settle back in the field and was lethal at the finish, charging home to win by a short neck.



“He hit the line super and has really grown into himself this time in work. Everything is going well and hopefully he can win again next time,” said Hickman, who will take Eleven Eleven to the Gold Coast for Magic Millions Day, but is still unsure of whether to run his charge over 1200 or 1400m.

“He’s healthy and happy and going super.”

A $230,000 Magic Millions purchase for his trainer from the Edinburgh Park draft, Eleven Eleven ran brilliantly on Magic Millions day in 2020 beating all bar Alligator Blood to finish second in the $2million Magic Millions 3YO Guineas.

Eleven Eleven as a yearling.

The race was later awarded to him when Alligator Blood returned a positive swab, providing a huge monetary boost for his big ownership group who will be champing at the bit to get back to the Gold Coast in January.

Eleven Eleven has the overall record of sic wins and six placings from 18 starts with earnings just shy of $1.5million.

Bred and sold by Ian Smith of Edinburgh Park, Eleven Eleven is a full brother to stakes-placed War Memorial and three-quarter brother-in-blood to Group II MVRC Stutt Stakes winner Glenfiddich being from well bred import Smokin Alice(USA)..

Edinburgh Park sold an Exceed and Excel colt from Smokin Alice at Magic Millions 2020 for $1million that has been named Ovoid and placed at his first barrier trial in Sydney on December 8 for the Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou stable.

Smokin Alice has no yearling for the 2021 sale, but did produce a filly by Trapeze Artist in October.

Edinburgh Park have a big draft of 20 for the 2021 Magic Millions and you can see them here.

Champion sire Fastnet Rock sired eight winners throughout Australasia and Hong Kong on New Year’s Day and has 18 entries for the 2021 Magic Millions.


 

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Race Result - Christmas Classic LR 1200m

Canterbury Track: Soft(6) Time: 1:10.40
1
Eleven Eleven
- 4g Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Smokin' Alice (USA) (Smoke Glacken (USA))
Tnr: G D Hickman Rdr: K S Latham 54.5
Fastnet Rock
2
0.2
Discharged
- 4g Snitzel (AUS) x No Evidence Needed (AUS) (Shamardal (USA))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Ms W Costin 53
3
1.0
Inanup
- 7g Bon Hoffa (AUS) x Our Slew (AUS) (Gilded Time (USA))
Tnr: J M Austin Rdr: Ms J Taylor 53
4
1.2
Spaceboy
- 4g Deep Field (AUS) x Miatoko (AUS) (Danzero (AUS))
Tnr: G Portelli Rdr: Ms K O'Hara 53
5
1.4
Chat
- 4g Deep Field (AUS) x Only Words (AUS) (End Sweep (USA))
Tnr: John Thompson Rdr: Tom Sherry 54
6
1.9
Hightail
- 4g Written Tycoon (AUS) x La Paris (AUS) (Falvelon (AUS))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: C Reith 54.5
7
2.0
Easy Eddie
- 6g Super Easy (NZ) x Twin Town (GB) (Halling (USA))
Tnr: Joseph Pride Rdr: S Clipperton 59
8
2.6
Quackerjack
- 5g Not A Single Doubt (AUS) x Quack It (NZ) (Ustinov (AUS))
Tnr: Mark Newnham Rdr: J Parr 59
9
4.1
Tahitian Dancer
- 5m Dawn Approach (IRE) x Takanori (AUS) (Vital Equine (IRE))
Tnr: Joseph Pride Rdr: J Ford 54
10
17.0
Spirit Of Valor
- 7h War Front (USA) x Stone Hope (USA) (Grindstone (USA))
Tnr: K A Lees Rdr: A Gibbons 58
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