$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.


Advertisment
More Reading...
Breeding To Win – 2025 G1 Tatts Tiara
With Royal Ascot done and dusted for another year, let's turn our attention to the final G1 of the Australian racing season as some very expensive mares seek to land that elusive G1 and three runners will carry the Yulong colours!
Juvenile Trial Watch – Randwick
Trial action was at Randwick on Friday and there were six heats for juveniles that included some interesting unraced youngsters highlighted by the full brother to a promising young sire, a well bred son of Farnan and an Extreme Choice filly.
Promising 2YOs for Pike
Tony Pike found it difficult to split his juvenile charges the last time they took each other on and it’s the same story at Ruakaka.
Flying Artie 2YO Wins by Four!
Blue Gum Farm have an appealing roster of three sires for this spring and while it’s all in front of Sejardan and Oxley Road, proven favourite Flying Artie remains unbeatable value and the G1 sire produced a four length 2YO winner on Thursday.
Sires With Winners - Thursday June 26
Here is the full list of 42 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Cambridge Stud to Sell Entire Draft at Karaka 2026
Leading thoroughbred nursery Cambridge Stud have committed their full support for NZB’s 2026 National Yearling Sales Series, with the announcement they will be selling 100% of their yearling stock at Karaka. 
$190,000 Per Incanto Colt Heads Vibrant Weanling Sale
The  2025 National Weanling Sale saw its first dual-code weanling session in play at Karaka, with a total aggregate of $2,410,000 outlaid across 84 lots by a strong domestic buying bench plus international support from Australia, Hong Kong and China.
Mulberry Racing Secure Everest Slot
Racing NSW today announced that Mulberry Racing has secured a slot in the $20 million TAB Everest for a term of three years commencing with the running of this year’s race.
Profondo Weanlings Impress
The first progeny of Windsor Park Stud stallion Profondo made a favourable impression during the NZB National Weanling Sale at Karaka on Thursday.
Do Early Winners Equate to Long Term Stud Success?
As we move towards the end of the racing season, attention invariably focuses on first season sires and who will be the leader of the cohort by winners and it’s a close run race this year, but does any of it matter in the grand scheme of things?