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.
With the heart-breaking loss of So You Think this week, his four sons at stud in Australia will surely be in demand, and while they’re all at differing stages of their career, none has more stakes performers than his Group 1 Rosehill Guineas winning son D’Argento.
Recording a winner earlier in the day at Strathalbyn when the Bowness Stud consigned It’s Only Magic broke his maiden for trainers John Hickmott and Carrina Riggs, it was just a few short hours later that D’Argento’s second runner of the day also became his second winner for the day.
Off the back of two second placed trial performances, 3yo D’Argento filly Ladies Pro jumped away on the second line of betting behind the short priced favourite Tennessee Spirit (Capitalist) in the field of five.
From the outside barrier, jockey Lucy Fiore had the Grant and Alana Williams trained Ladies Pro in second last position, while the favourite controlled the race from the front.
One of the first to commence their runs, Fiore asked for an effort but still had many lengths to make up on Tennessee Spirit who had kicked for home once they entered the straight.
Looking as if she would run an encouraging second on debut, Ladies Pro knuckled down extremely well to gather in the leader and win with ease, pulling clear by a length and three quarters.
Speaking to Breednet after the win, Bowness Stud’s Jocelyn Daly had a hint of excitement in her voice about the victory.
“We very much appreciate the support of Grant and Alana Williams for purchasing the filly (Ladies Pro) at the Magic Millions Adelaide sale, plus they’ve been the main supporters of D’Argento in the west”, said Daly.
“Congratulations should also go to bloodstock agent Suman Hedge who recognised the quality of the filly at the sale.”
“With Coolmore announcing the devasting news this week of the loss of So You Think, we know how fortunate we are to stand one of his Group 1-winning sons at stud, and with nine race winners so far this month, we’re excited to see his third crop of 2yo’s race in the coming months.”
Bred by Bowness Stud, Ladies Pro is the first runner, and winner out of the two-time winning Pierro mare Il Professionale who comes from the family of Group 1 winners Universal Prince, Universal Queen and Krone, as well as So You Think’s multiple elite level winner and $8.4m earner Think It Over, clearly highlighting that the cross works within the family.
Ladies Pro was an astute purchase by Williams Racing and Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) for $45,000 from the draft of Bowness Stud at the 2024 Magic Millions Adelaide yearling sale.
Bowness Stud offered the second foal out of the mare at the 2025 Magic Millions National yearling sale with agent Paul Beamish securing the colt by Newhaven Park’s Cool Aza Beel (Savabeel) for $45,000.
Set to be re-offered at the upcoming New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale, held on November 12 and 13, the colt is part of the Woburn Farm draft and will sell as Lot 379.
Bowness Stud will offer the third foal of Il Professionale, a lovely colt by Newgate Farm’s Profiteer at January’s Magic Millions yearling sale, and although the mare was not covered last season, she went in foal to D’Argento this year on a September 1 cover.
Ladies Pro became the 14th individual Australian winner from 50 runners this season for D’Argento, with the sire of six individual stakes performers standing at a fee of $16,500 (inc. GST) at Bowness Stud this season.
