Kia Ora Stud took a fancy to a couple of yearlings by Exceed and Excel at the Magic Millions, splashing out $1,400,000 for an Ichihara colt and $1,100,000 for a filly out of the Group II winner Sweet Sherry.
The colt has yet to be named, while the filly called Eneeza is up and running. After finishing second on debut in the Group III Ottawa Staked at Flemington on November 11, the daughter of Exceed and Excel was in a class of her own in Saturday’s Listed Ive - Merson Cooper Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield.
Ridden by Damian Lane for Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman, Eneeza powered home to defeat the Yes Yes Yes debutant Flattered by two and a quarter lengths with three-quarters of a length back to the first-starter Express Yo'self, providing Alabama Express with another stakes horse.
Katherine Coleman said the Eneeza did not have the rub of the green on debut.
“She didn’t have a lot of favours that day up the straight so to see her come here today and get the job done is fantastic and really good for connections, they’ve put a bit of money into this filly so it’s really good to see,” Coleman said.
“She had to do it the hard way today but even still she was good enough to kick off that speed and which was really nice to see.
I think having that run under her belt, she’s handled today so well, she’s just a real professional this filly.”
“Pete (Moody) has always had a soft spot for her from day one. She’s a beautiful type of filly, and she’s just that type of two-year-old that looks like a natural athlete and a natural runner.
“Brandon Stockdale has done a massive job as one of our track riders; she can be a little hot at times, so a big credit to him.
“She is a Magic Millions filly, but we’re not committing to that; we’ll just see how she comes through this first and foremost and she how she pulls up.”
Bred by Grant Bloodstock, Eneeza is the second foal and first runner for the Group II SAJC Euclase Stakes winner Sweet Sherry.
A $260,000 yearling purchase for Cloud 9 Thoroughbreds, Sweet Sherry’s first two foals have made upwards of $1million with a Snitzel filly selling for $1,350,000, while Eneeza made $1,100,000 to the bid of Kia Ora Stud /TFI, when offered by Silverdale Farm.
A daughter of Bel Esprit, Sweet Sherry is a half-sister to the Group II ATC Sapphire Stakes winner Arinosa (Dash For Cash), and stakes-place getters Onerous and Andaz out of the stakes-placed Amoroso (Revoque).
Sweet Sherry has a yearling colt by I Am Invincible and a Snitzel filly born on August 18.
At the Inglis Classic, North consigns a Yes Yes Yes filly out of Sweet Sherry’s half-sister, Elizabeth Jane (lot 374) and an Exceedance colt from another half-sister, Lockley Parade (lot 432), while Westbury Stud consigns a more distant relation, a Reliable Man filly to the NZB Karaka Yearling Sale (lot 665). Click to see Family Search for Eneeza.
Eneeza is the 214th stakes-winner for Darley Stud’s flagship stallion Exceed And Excel.
