We’ve grown accustomed to the tidal wave of tried gallopers arriving on our shores from Europe that fill the fields in races of 1600m and further, but there has also been a growing interest from Australian investors in sourcing unraced youngsters directly from Euro yearling and foal sales with the purpose of racing here and we saw two well bred fillies salute at Bendigo on Thursday.
The Trilogy Racing colours are carried by three year-old Night of Thunder filly Our Queen (IRE) and she kicked off with a facile debut win in the 1300m maiden for the Mike Moroney stable.
“She’s a pretty smart filly with a good engine and will have no trouble stepping out over further distances,” said winning rider Billy Egan.
Our Queen was purchased for €175,000 at the 2021 Goffs November Foal Sale by McKeever BS/CB Bloodstock and is a half-sister to stakes-winner Raven’s Cry from stakes-placed Street Cry mare Sagami, who won over 2400m and comes from the family of staying stakes-winners Sahrawi, Sacred spirit and Sarrasin.
Also opening her account at her second start with a half length win in the 1600m maiden was the Lindsay Park trained three year-old filly Savilla (FR), a daughter of champion French sire Le Havre.
Mick Dee was in the saddle of the filly, who started a short priced favourite.
“She took a good furlong to wind up and find her top gear and was very good through the line, but she’s an out and out stayer for sure,” he said.
Purchased for €70,000 from the 2022 Arqana Deauville August Yearling Sale by the Broadhurst Agency, Savilla is from winning Camelot mare Savina, a daughter of stakes-winning stayer Maid of Dawkins.
