$1.8 Million Filly Rolled on Debut

Tara Madgwick - Friday December 8
Expensive filly Al Naifa ran very well on debut at Moonee Valley on Friday night, but not quite well enough to win with that honour going to the unheralded Greg Eurell trained filly Lady Horseowner.

The Tony McEvoy trained Al Naifa was patiently ridden by Luke Currie and allowed to find her feet early before looming into the contention on the turn.

The half-sister by Redoute's Choice to Group I winner English lengthened stride and set out after the leader Lady Horseowner and looked fleetingly as though she would go straight past, but the other filly was having none of that.

Under strong riding from Nikita Berriman, Lady Horseowner kicked back to win by a short half head on the line.

"She had to do a lot of work early," said Berriman.

"She might be little, but she's so tough."

Greg Eurell was full of praise for his filly.

"She's got the heart of a lion," said Eurell.

"She's always displayed that she was very forward and all she wants to be is a racehorse."

EquianoHer owner breeder Paul King was on hand to watch the win with his wife Carol, for whom the filly is named.

"We offered another filly at Inglis Premier that passed in and I went and saw Greg to see if he'd take her if I kept 50%, which he did and then I thought I'd send him this other little filly as well, so that was how she came into his care," King said.

"She's gone from being broken in to going into work and winning a race in one preparation."

So who is this 'little filly'? Turns out she's by Swettenham Stud's former shuttler Equiano (Fr) and is the first foal of Kid Gloves, a placed Fastnet Rock grand-daughter of US Group II winner Crowned.


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