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...
More Stakes Success for Impending - Cool Memory Wins Listed Farnley
A son of Larneuk Stud's value Lonhro stallion Impending, five year old Cool Memory bolted in to claim his second stakes win and bring joy to favourite backers on a rain-drenched Saturday at Belmont Park.
Pedigree Watch – 3YO Plus That G1 Late Bloomer
Saturday delivered another exciting instalment of early spring racing with three stakes races for 3YO’s and once again all of them were won by new first time stakes-winners that were virtually unsighted at two and we also had a new G1 winner, whose path to the top has been anything but smooth.
Sires With Winners - Saturday September 6
Here is the full list of 106 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Stakes Goals Ahead for Supido Mare
Astute trainer David Payne is no stranger to G1 success and has always held Supido mare Shohisha in high regard and she showed the potential of better things to come this spring when powering home to win the Benchmark 94 event over 1600m at Randwick on Saturday.
G1 Haydock Sprint Cup Upset
Wathnan Racing were expecting to win the Group I Haydock Sprint Cup (6f) overnight with short priced race favourite Lazzat, but the best he could manage was fifth behind progressive three year-old colt Big Mojo.
Ones to Watch – Bendigo
At this time of year, you tend to take special notice of well-bred 3YO debut winners and three of them arrived at Bendigo on Sunday that were all interesting for different reasons and none more so than one who has a name that has become infamous this year.
Ka Ying Rising Straight to Everest Quarantine after Return Romp
Hong Kong Champion Ka Ying Rising was headed straight to quarantine to prepare for the Group I The Everest after another stunning performance when resuming for the new season on Sunday at Sha Tin.
Pericles Turns Back the Clock
Six year-old Street Boss (USA) gelding Pericles won the Group II ATC Tramway Stakes (1400m) two years ago in 2023 when trained by James Cummings and he repeated the effort at Randwick on Saturday, but this time he is in the care of Bjorn Baker.
Derby Dreaming for Crown of Russia
Danny O’Brien already has one promising winner by his former G1 star Russian Camelot (IRE) in the stable in Censori and on Sunday at Bendigo he unleashed another.
Sires With Winners - Sunday September 7
Here is the full list of 67 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.