Slipper Produces Australia’s Best Maiden

Tara Madgwick - Sunday March 25
The Group I ATC Golden Slipper produced a brilliant finish with the cream of the juvenile crop rising to the occasion and the top three in betting finding their way into the first four past the post, but the surprise packet in the first four was an I Am Invincible filly now undisputedly Australia's best maiden.

Oohood challenges the winner EstijaabA homebred for Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, the Tony McEvoy trained Oohood (image Steve Hart) made the winner Estijaab earn her victory, sticking on gamely to test the Snitzel filly before going down by a long head with her stablemate Sunlight in third place just ahead of the Blue Diamond winner Written By.

"It was a great effort. I thought at the 100m when I was coming I was going to get there but the winner kicked a little bit as I was coming and held me at bay," said her rider Zac Purton.

While much has been written on Estijaab, the performance of Oohood marks her as a horse to follow and she too has a blueblood background.

A half-sister to stakes-placed Breakfast in Bed and six other winners, Oohood is from metropolitan winning Sunday Silence mare Bella Sunday, who was bred by Arrowfield in partnership and sold at the 2002 Magic Millions where she made $420,000 to the bid of Rogerson Bloodstock.

Oohood came with a big pedigree as she is a half-sister to stakes-winner and leading sire Not a Single Doubt being from terrific producer Singles Bar, a daughter of famed matriarch Easy Date, the third dam of the 2007 Golden Slipper winner Forensics.

Bella Sunday did her racing for Ron Finemore and the Arrowfield partners before going to stud for them and it was not until she was offered at the Inglis Australian Broodmare Sale in 2013 that she came into the ownership of Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum.

She was purchased at that sale by Tim Stakemire on behalf of the Sheikh for just $110,000 and her subsequent foals since 2013 including Oohood have been foaled and raised at Coolmore.

Oohood has yet to miss a place in five starts earning a tick over $800,000 and her Golden Slipper second was preceded by a third in the Blue Diamond.

While she went to the post at $16 in the Slipper, it is very unlikely punters will get such good odds about Oohood in the future.

Footnote: The current yearling from Bella Sunday, a colt by Smart Missile was sold by Coolmore at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale for $140,000 to McEvoy Mitchell Racing.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Consecutive Hall Mark Stakes Wins For Mazu
Taking his earnings past $9m for Triple Crown Syndications, the Joe Pride trained Mazu (Maurice) hasn’t won since this meeting last year but put the writing on the wall at his last two starts before going back-to-back in the Group 3 ATC Hall Mark Stakes (1200m) at Randwick.
Spirit Of Boom Brings Up 30th Stakes Winner
Off the back of a last start 1200m victory at Eagle Farm, Tony Gollan’s 3yo gelding Boomtown Boss stepped up to 1400m for the first time in his career, taking out the Listed BRC Daybreak Lover to become the 30th stakes winner for Eureka Stud’s Spirit Of Boom.
I Am Invincible's Media Sensation back with a bang at Te Rapa
Last season’s Gr1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) winner, Media Sensation made a successful start to her four-year-old campaign when she eased clear of race favourite Ferrando to take out the Listed Legacy Lodge Stakes (1200m) at Te Rapa.
Kiwi bred Jimmysstar Wins Crackerjack G1 All Aged
Former Kiwi galloper Jimmysstar has stamped himself as one of the most exciting sprinters in Australia with a brilliant victory in the Gr.1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Sires With Winners - Saturday April 19
Here is the full list of 121 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
First to 100
It’s probably no surprise to anyone that this stallion is the first to sire 100 Australian winners this season.
Kiwi Bred Bankers Choice wins Mornington Cup
Versatile Kiwi-bred galloper Bankers Choice has provided himself with a shot at one of the biggest prizes on the Victorian spring racing calendar with victory in Saturday’s $300,000 Listed Mornington Cup (2400m).
$1,050,000 Colt for I Am Invincible
Tipped as one of the stars on day one at Magic Millions, the I Am Invincible colt from Group II winning Zabeel mare Adrift duly set the sale ring alight when selling for $1,050,00 with Guy Mulcaster signing the docket in conjunction with Waller Racing.
Helsinge Family Strikes Again in G1 Champagne
From a clear last at the top of the straight to what seemed an unlikely first at the winning post, exciting Brutal colt Nepotism produced a scintillating performance to win the $1million Group I ATC Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Invincible Colt on Target for Blue Diamond
The open juvenile event at Randwick on Saturday always looked good on paper with some highly rated fillies and two expensive colts engaged and at the winning post it was I Am Invincible’s Rulership that claimed the victory and he did it in style!