Top Priced Filly Breaks Her Maiden

Mark Smith - Sunday January 21

Twenty-four hours after Estijaab, the second top-priced filly of the 2017 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, broke her maiden at Randwick it was the turn of the sale-topping filly Al Naifa to break the ice at Sale.

The Tony McEvoy-trained filly was sent off an odds-on favourite following an impressive debut when narrowly beaten at Moonee Valley on December 8.

Advertisement

The daughter of Redoute's Choice travelled sweetly outside the Godolphin debutant Nivalis before Andrew Mallyon released the breaks to push her out to defeat Shadwell's Hinchinbrook filly Gheedaa by one and three-quarter lengths with Dramadale (Real Saga) back in third.


McEvoy stable representative Michael Shepherdson said they treated the race a step to better things to come.

"She was real professional today, at the Valley, if she didn't hit the front she was close to it and switched off," he said.

She has done that in her trackwork and her trials, she only does what she has too, so it was good to see her go on with it today.

"She's a filly that has always shown a high amount of talent, so today was all about giving her a good experience and try and accumulate some prizemoney which she will help her get into the better races.

A $1.8 million purchase by Tim Stakemire on behalf of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum from the Newhaven Park draft, Al Naifa is a half-sister to Group I winner and $2.8 million earner English (Encosta de Lago).

The equal third highest priced yearling filly ever by Redoute's Choice, Al Naifa is the third winner from as many foals out of the Anabaa (USA) mare Court whose five wins included the Group II AJC Sapphire Stakes and Group II BTC Champagne Classic.

Newhaven Park will offer a Snitzel filly out of Court at the Inglis Australia Easter Yearling Sale in April.

Despite being courted by Redoute's Choice, Not A Single Doubt and Medaglia d'Oro (USA) in 2016, Court failed to conceive. She was covered by Snitzel last spring.

Advertisment
More Reading...
First Win for $2.1million Magic Millions Sale-Topper
It was a full-circle moment for Te Akau Racing at Te Aroha on Wednesday when Avantaggia, the filly that topped the 2024 Magic Millions Yearling Sale, broke through for her maiden win in the Donaghys Moxipor (1150m).
Premier Racing Stables for Sale in New Zealand
A unique opportunity to get a foothold in the heart of thoroughbred country in New Zealand has arisen offering both functionality and prestige within an ideal base to pursue racing success in the leading equine region in the country.
Inglis Digital - Darby Swoop on Amazing Eagle for $310,000
Scott Darby believes today’s Inglis Digital sale-topper Amazing Eagle (Capitalist) can continue along the same successful mould as the likes of former online Darby acquisitions Robusto, Caballus and Imperial Force and progress on to become a future racetrack star.
One To Watch – Belmont
We look far and wide to highlight Breednet’s ‘One To Watch’ and today’s winner of the first race at Belmont, 3yo D’Argento filly Ladies Pro, won in the manner of a horse with a nice future and in the process shone a spotlight on her sire who recorded his ninth winner so far this month.
G1 Champions Mile Next for Ceolwulf
Trainer Joe Pride will likely keep stable star Ceolwulf to a mile as he looks to round off his spring campaign with a first trip away.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday October 22
Here is the full list of 37 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
NZB Ready to Run Breeze Ups Complete for 2025
The final day of NZB’s 2025 Ready to Run Sale Breeze Ups saw a further 202 two-year-olds gallop down the home straight at Te Rapa Racecourse.
Henry Longfellow Pedigree Gets an Update
Group I winning Dubawi stallion Henry Longfellow (IRE) is covering his first Australian book of mares at Rosemont Stud this spring and overnight in Ireland his two year-old sister-in-blood landed her first Group race win.
2025 G1 Spring Champion – Pedigree Preview
A lot of attention is paid to the sprinting three year-old division and much less so to the stayers, but with $2million in prizemoney the Group I ATC Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on Saturday has attracted a full field of 14 and all of them are on trial at the trip.
End Of An Era - 2025 G1 Cox Plate
“There are many ways of going forward, but only one way of standing still” - Franklin D Roosevelt.