The last foal of blue hen Pretty Penny, Pretty Powerful returned for a new campaign as a gelding at Warwick Farm on Wednesday and he made it a winning return.
Trained by Chris Waller and ridden by Tommy Berry, Pretty Powerful was last seen in action back in August when third on a heavy track at Randwick and he was gelded during his time away from competition.
Tuned up with a couple of recent trials, Pretty Powerful settled back in the field and when brought to the outside after turning for home he set sail for the line with a slick change of gear.
Although tiring late at the 1400m first up, Pretty Powerful had enough left to win by half a length.
“As a colt, he's always shown good ability, but he wanted to overdo it in his races at times, and I think it showed how well he's come back and how much more relaxed he is, because the team were able to start him over 1400 first up, which is where he usually goes at his best anyway, when he's on the fresh side,” said Tommy Berry.
“He settled a touch further back than I expected him to be, but once again, I was mindful if I could get the first half right, get him to switch off, do everything right, then he's got a really good turn of foot, and we saw that today.
“He'd had enough just there at the end, but he's in for a great preparation at a perfect time of year for him.”
Pretty Powerful has three wins from seven starts with prizemoney topping $120,000 and certainly appeals as a horse that has more to offer as he matures which has been a hallmark of many of his family members.
A homebred for Dr Denis and Claire O’Brien’s Clairden Racing, Pretty Powerful is the ninth winner from nine foals to race from blue hen Pretty Penny, whose star offspring are headed by Group winners Sertorious, Pretty Brazen and Dollar for Dollar, who were all second in G1 races, as well as Group winners Pretty Amazing and Clifton Red, not to mention three more stakes-placed horses in Rezealient, I Am Titanium and Fortune of War, the dam of HK Group III winner Patch of Theta.
Foaled and raised at Coolmore, Pretty Powerful is the last foal for Pretty Penny, who has now been retired, and it will be no surprise if he progresses into Black Type company as have all of his siblings that have raced!
Pretty Penny has four daughters at stud, so this is a family likely to catch alight all over again in the next few years.
Pretty Powerful is the fifth metropolitan winner since last Friday for Yes Yes Yes, who relocated to Gooree Park Stud this year to stand at a fee of $16,500.
He has three entries for Magic Millions 2026 and two for Inglis Classic.
