Hinchinbrook's Aliferous Shocks in Adrian Knox

Mark Smith - Saturday April 6

With the favourite Amangiri drifting out under pressure in the straight and taking most of the field with her, Brenton Avdulla found himself all alone on the inside on the $50 chance Aliferous and the Australian Bloodstock colour-bearer proceeded to silence the crowd in Saturday's Group III Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m) at Randwick.

There was a sensation before the start when the topweight Princess Jenni was scratched after a lump with dried blood was found on her neck.

Advertisement

Beaten into second place in a benchmark 64 at Kembla Grange at her most recent start after winning over 1600 metres at Tamworth on March 10, Aliferous defeated the game Amangiri (All Too Hard) by a half-neck with long-head back to Maracaibo (Redoute's Choice) in third. (image Steve Hart)


Winning trainer Kris Lees said the daughter of Hinchinbrook had earned her chance in next week's Group 1 ATC Australian Oaks.

"It would be hard not to run. We'll give her every chance anyway," Lees said.

"You don't know where they come from this time of year. She was really good at Kembla off the track. It was a good conditioning run for a testing track today. She got through the ground so there are a lot of positives.

"Brenton did the right thing early getting her to relax. She was a little keen mid-race but she was always going to be strong late. When the runs appeared she really let down on this type of ground."

Brenton Avdulla admitted that he went into the race more hopeful than confident.

"I was very surprised, obviously she was up in grade, but I suppose these fillies that can handle the ground, handle the trip, it's half the battle," Avdulla said.

"She minded her own business out of the back there, I thought she was going to run a good fourth or fifth at the top of the straight, but they rolled along at a good speed and they hit a wall at the 150m and she was the fresh horse on the scene and was good enough to run over them."


Bred by Trevor Delroy's Wyadup Valley Farm, Aliferous (pictured as a yearling) was consigned by Yarraman Park to the 2017 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale where she was knocked down to Australian Bloodstock for $130,000.

She becomes the third stakes-winner out of the unraced Woodman mare Willow after the Listed stakes-winner Ulundi (Helenus) and Durnford.

A half-sister to Group III AJC Frank Packer Plate winner Afraah (Danehill), Willow has had seven winners from her eight foals to reach the track.

Willow was sold for $75,000 at the 2017 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale when purchased by Randwick Bloodstock agency who the following year paid the same price for the weanling Hinchinbrook colt she was carrying at the time of her sale.

That colt would make $110,000 to the bid of Harvest Bloodstock at the 2018 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Willow has a filly foal from the final crop of the sadly missed Hinchinbrook and was covered by Sooboog last spring.

Aliferous becomes the 17th stakes-winner for Hinchinbrook who died at the age of 10 at Yarraman Park last July.

Advertisment
More Reading...
2025 National Thoroughbred Week Launched
National Thoroughbred Week, the newly launched industry initiative designed to bring the public closer to the thoroughbred and our sport, is excited to confirm a truly trans-Tasman exposure, with hosts confirmed across all Australian and New Zealand regions.
Career Best Victory for Wentwood Grange Favourite Yearling
Dean Hawkins admits to shedding a tear or two when With Your Blessing was sold as a yearling.
Tara Talks Racing - Trials and Racing
This week we’re talking trials after an insightful set of official 2YO trials in Sydney, plus some racing and how Fangirl will eventually go to stud with two Group I wins less on her resume than there should be.
Pedigree Potential –NZB Ready to Run – Nicks that Click
A quality packed catalogue for the 2025 NZB Ready to Run Sale is now online and in the lead up to the sale we’ll go looking each week for some horses of interest that jump out on pedigree for various reasons.
First trial success for Sword Of State
Cambridge Stud stallion Sword Of State was represented by an impressive trial winner when State Of Valour coasted to victory in his two-year-old heat over 730m at Te Rapa on Tuesday.
G1 Golden Rose Field and Barrier Draw
Godolphin filly Tempted will take on eight colts in a nine horse Group One Golden Rose at Rosehill on Saturday where she retains favouritism after drawing barrier eight.
Wootton Bassett Sad Passing
Wootton Bassett, one of the world’s great sires, has sadly passed away today at Coolmore Australia.
One to Watch – Warrnambool
So You Think is the first sire to hit 40 winners for the season and he did it with a three year-old filly that won easily on debut at Warrnambool on Monday in the Kia Ora Stud colours.
Last Yearlings By Hinchinbrook to Sell at 2020 Sales
The sad loss of Yarraman Park's much loved sire Hinchinbrook was highlighted yet again at Sha Tin on Sunday when his quality sprinter Beat the Clock led home an Aussie bred first four in the Group I HK International Sprint.
Hinchinbrook Sprinter wins G1 Centenary Sprint Cup Again!
The sad loss of Yarraman Park's  Hinchinbrook was highlighted yet again at Sha Tin on Sunday when his quality sprinter Beat the Clock claimed another major victory in the Group I Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m).