Three year-old So You Think gelding Miralie is the last foal of Merlene, who
won the 1996 Golden Slipper for Lee Freedman. Trained by Vincent Nolen at Benalla, Miralie was second and third at his only two previous starts at Albury and Wodonga last month before going to the post as a short priced favourite for the 1400 metre maiden at Corowa.
He led all the way and cruised to the line to win by nearly four lengths.
A modest $35,000 Inglis Easter purchase from the Daandine Stud draft for Nolen Racing, Miralie is the ninth winner from ten foals to race from Merlene, whose best offspring is South African Group II winner Merlene de Lago.
Another of her daughters is unraced Shirley, the dam of $2million earner and Group I winner Dear Demi, while the family has also produced another Golden Slipper winner in Capitalist.
Being by So You Think, Miralie has a real mix of speed and stamina in his pedigree so it will be interesting to see his career unfold.
