One to Watch – Cranbourne

Tara Madgwick - Saturday March 30

The Group I ATC Australian Oaks will come too quick for this talented High Chaparral (IRE) filly, but she may find something else to suit at the back end of the season.

Vanuatu as a yearling

Vanuatu as a yearling

Scoring her second win from just four starts at Cranbourne on Friday night was the Grahame Begg trained filly Vanuatu, who surged to the line to win by the best part of a length beating the older horses as a short priced favourite.

Previously trained by Darren Weir, Vanuatu runs for Pinecliff Racing and was a $340,00 Inglis Easter purchase from the Lustre Lodge draft for Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock. She is a sister-in-blood to brilliant Group II winner Omei Sword, who was also second in a Group I ATC Golden Rose.

Vanuatu is the second winner from Tropicana Lady, an unraced full sister to Group I MRC Thousand Guineas winner Irish Lights.

Lustre Lodge sold the current yearling from Tropicana Lady, a colt by So You Think, at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale for $75,000 to Matthew Dunn / Neil Jenkinson.

Tropicana Lady has a weanling filly by So You Think and is in foal to Rubick.

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