Astern's Fillies on Fire in America

Mark Smith - Sunday October 3

It has been a red-letter day in America for Darley Stud's Astern.

It kicked off with his first U.S. stakes-winner with Sail By, a dominant winner of the Grade II Miss Grillo Stakes for two-year-old fillies over 1 1/16-mile on the turf at Belmont Park.

Advertisement

The two-year-old filly Tom's Beauty added to the score with a one and three-quarter length triumph in a 5-furlong maiden special weight on the turf at Santa Anita.

Another two-year-old filly, She's Like Thunder, could not quite make it a memorable trifecta when playing second fiddle to the More Than Ready (USA) filly Consumer Spending in the Selima Stakes at Laurel Park.  

The Leah Gyarmati-trained Sail By returned to winning ways on the turf following a last-start third in the P. G. Johnston Stakes at Saratoga, which was switched from the turf to the main track.

With Junior Alvarado in the saddle, Sail By tracked the leader Charlee O in the running. The daughter of Astern was a menacing presence before the field turned for home.

Sail By comfortably held the challenge of Kinchen (Lope De Vega) by a length with the favourite McKulick (Frankel) a head back in third.

"She broke very sharply, was laying second beautifully and was relaxing nicely," Alvarado said told Bloodhorse.  

"I knew I was going to have horse turning for home.

"I always thought she wouldn't have a problem stretching out.

"I was hoping she wouldn't get too sharp at the beginning. I knew she would get the distance for sure."

Winning trainer Leah Gyarmati said she would confer with owner-breeder Jeff Treadway regarding a start in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar on November 5.

"Any time you're even thinking about having that kind of opportunity is wonderful," Gyarmati said.

"I'll have to talk to Jeff, but I'm sure he is game and wants to go. That's a conversation we'll have to have."

Sail By advanced her record to two wins, a second and a third from four starts with earnings of US$193,800.

Sail By is the first foal of Fly By, a winning daughter of the former New Zealand shuttler Johar (USA), and is the first stakes-winner for the family in four generations.

Sail By is the third stakes-winner for Astern, following Group III Scarborough Stakes winner Seradess and Listed Castletown Stakes winner Danger Strikes.

The Group 1 winning son of Medaglia d'Oro (USA) stands for a fee of $16,500 at Darley Stud NSW this spring.

Astern

Advertisment
More Reading...
Kiwi Bred Good Banter Finds Winning Form
Four-year-old mare Good Banter was back in the winner’s circle when narrowly prevailing in the Catanach's Jewellers Handicap (2000m) at Rosehill on Saturday for trainers John O’Shea and Tom Charlton.
Marble Nine Brings Up Second SW For Aquis Sire Kobayashi
The withdrawal of the top weight in Saturday’s $175,000 Listed VRC Santa Ana Lane Sprint Series Final (1200m) at Flemington saw the field down to just six, with Marble Nine continuing his outstanding recent form to secure his first black type victory.
Pride’s Outsider Estadio Mestalla Wins Winter Stakes
The lone stakes race on Rosehill’s ten-race card on Saturday saw Joe Pride’s race outsider Estadio Mestalla (Galileo Gold) take out the $200,000 Listed ATC Winter Stakes (1400m) in a boilover.
Snitzel Filly Bridal Waltz Wins A.R. Creswick Stakes
While many felt the winner of Saturday’s Listed $175,000 VRC A.R. Creswick Stakes (1200m) had raced two weeks prior in the Shop Flemington Handicap (1100m) – and they would’ve been correct – but it was not the result many punters felt it would be!
Buccleuch - First Stakes-Winner for Peltzer
The $175,000 Listed VRC Taj Rossi Series Final (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday was won back in 2020 by Cherry Tortoni, who went to on to become a multiple Group winner of nearly $1million and the same colours were carried by this year’s winner Buccleuch.
Sires With Winners - Saturday July 5
Here is the full list of 112 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Invincible 3YO Wins G3 Winx Guineas
The $300,000 Group III Winx Guineas (1600m) at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday featured a big field of 16 up and comers and following the late scratching of favourite Mister Bianco, Angela Jones took luck out of the equation on I Am Invincible gelding The Three Hundred.
Flemington Victory for Tarzino Mare
Quirky but talented mare Miss Tarzy has come from last win the Leilani Series Final (1400m) under a patient Jett Stanley ride.
Divine Prophet’s Fortunate Kiss Captures Elusive Black Type Win
With nine top five finishes in previous black type races, it was better late than never as 6yo Divine Prophet mare Fortunate Kiss charged along the inside to win the $300,000 Listed Glasshouse Handicap (1400m) at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday – her first black type victory.
Sweet Redemption for Stable Favourite Jimmy the Bear
Patrick and Michelle Payne enjoyed a red letter day at Flemington on Saturday with their rising star Buccleuch winning the Listed VRC Taj Rossi Series Final and then later in the day stable favourite Jimmy the Bear won the Listed VRC Winter Championship Series Final (1600m).