Juvenile Trial Watch – Canterbury

Half a dozen juvenile heats at the Canterbury trials on Thursday morning produced some interesting winners including a big strong chestnut Starspangledbanner colt trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace.

Racing in the Aquis colours, Igniting jumped fairly at his first public trial and then mustered to hold the fence and was in front turning for home. He powered to the line for Glyn Schofield to win the 900 metre trial comfortably under a hold by nearly three lengths.

A $180,000 Inglis Classic purchase for Aquis/Ciaron Maher Bloodstock from the Sledmere Stud draft, Igniting is the first foal of winning Starcraft mare Sell in May, a grand-daughter of stakes-winner Tennessee Mist from the renowned ‘Tennessee ‘ family that has produced Group I winners Malaguerra, Aloha and more recently Seabrook.

The full sister to Igniting will be offered at the 2019 Perth Magic Millions as Lot 125 by Gold Front Thoroughbreds.

Starspangledbanner already has one potentially top class juvenile this season in Brooklyn Hustle and Igniting may well be another.

In the next heat we saw another impressive colt with the China Horse Club colours carried to victory by the Peter and Paul Snowden trained Mandela, who travelled deep throughout and zoomed to the line out wide with ears pricked to win going away by three lengths.

A $280,000 Magic Millions purchase from the Musk Creek Farm draft for China Horse Club/ Newgate / WinStar, Mandela is the second named foal for Lonoree, a half-sister by Lonhro to stakes-winner Fleet and to the dam of Group I winner Secret Agenda from Group I winner Euphoria.

It's the Joy and Fun branch of the Denise’s Joy family that has produced Group I winners Bentley Biscuit, Thorn Park and current star Kementari.

Valiant Stud will offer the current yearling from Lonoree, a filly by Not a Single Doubt, as Lot 754 at the 2019 Magic Millions Yearling Sale . Pictured below, she is a three-quarter sister in-blood to $1.5 million earner and Group I winner Secret Agenda.