Stakes Success for Ilovethiscity Debutant

Mark Smith - Saturday February 29

The Greg Eurell-trained Ilovemyself was well-supported to make a winning career debut in Saturday’s Listed Very Special Kids Plate (1000m) at Flemington but it looked bleak for his supporters when Damien Oliver found himself in a zip-fastener pocket with 100 metres left to run.

But once he found clear air Ilovemyself let down impressively to put three-quarters of a length on the well-performed Night Of Thunder filly River Night with the Snitzel filly Time Is Precious the same distance back in third.Ilovemyself - images Grant Courtney

Eurell said he had not ruled out a shot at the Golden Slipper for the handsome son of Ilovethiscity.

"It's certainly a possibility," Eurell told racing.com.

"The Pago Pago is on in a fortnight and we'll seriously think about contesting it.

"The heartbeat started to get a lot stronger when he couldn't get any room there.

"Once he did start to stretch out, he's a very tough horse and it was a matter of hoping the line didn't come up too quick.

"It was a bit gut-wrenching. It would have been disappointing to lose it that way.

"I believe he would be better suited to the 1200 metres so it might be worth sneaking up there and seeing what he can do."

Advertisement

Ilovemyself is a homebred for Larneuk Stud Neville Murdoch who would have to stump up $150,000 for a late entry fee into the Slipper.

"The late entry fee is a bit of a sticky one but if we can get some more prizemoney it'll help me push him to get him in the race," Eurell said.

A son of the Larnauk Stud resident Ilovethiscity, Ilovemyself is out of the unraced Xaar mare Sunstyle who was purchased for just $700 out of the Vinery Stud draft at the 2014 Inglis Australian Broodmare and Weanling Sale.

Though the pedigree had been devoid of a stakes-winner for many generations, Sunstyle has proven to be a consistent producer with five winners from six foals to race.

She has a yearling filly by Cluster and a colt foal by Wolf’s Cry and was bred back to the that son of Street’s Cry again last spring.

Ilovemyself becomes the third stakes-winner for Ilovethiscity whose yearlings will be in short supply with just 15 live foals from his crop of 2018 although he covered 70 mares that year and 59 last year at a fee of $5,500.

Advertisment

Race Result - Very Special Kids Plate LR 1000m

Flemington Track: Good(4) Time: 0:57.62
1
Ilovemyself
- 2c Ilovethiscity (AUS) x Sunstyle (AUS) (Xaar (GB))
Tnr: G Eurell Rdr: D Oliver 56
2
0.8
River Night
- 2f Night Of Thunder (IRE) x River Pearl (AUS) (Helmet (AUS))
Tnr: M Ellerton & S Zahra Rdr: Ms L J Meech 54
3
1.6
Time Is Precious
- 2f Snitzel (AUS) x Rose Of Sharon (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: G A Ryan Rdr: L Nolen 55
4
3.0
Destination
- 2c Exceed And Excel (AUS) x Heaven (AUS) (Medaglia D'Oro (USA))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: Damian Lane 57
5
3.7
Chart Buster
- 2c Akeed Mofeed (GB) x Cheap Thrills (AUS) (Giant's Causeway (USA))
Tnr: D & B Hayes & T Dabernig Rdr: Regan Bayliss 56
6
3.8
Vangelic
- 2f Vancouver (AUS) x Angel Bee (NZ) (Pins (AUS))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Craig Williams 54
7
3.9
Diamondesque
- 2f Snitzel (AUS) x Asscher (NZ) (Stravinsky (USA))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: B Prebble 54
8
4.1
Aquagirl
- 2f Headwater (AUS) x Galapagos Girl (AUS) (Dehere (USA))
Tnr: P Stokes Rdr: Ben Thompson 54
9
4.2
Unstoppabelle
- 2f I Am Invincible (AUS) x Darcibelle (NZ) (Darci Brahma (NZ))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: M J Dee 54
More Reading...
$400,000 Invincible Filly a Grand Investment
A three-quarter sister-in-blood to dual Group I winning mare Charm Stone, stakes-placed I Am Invincible filly Naifah always looked well bought at the 2025 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale for $400,000.
One to Watch – Mornington
In Cox Plate week it only seems fitting that the 2013 winner Shamus Award would give us a ‘One to Watch’ at Mornington on Thursday.
Ilovethiscity Moves to Noor Elaine Farm
Noor Elaine Farm is pleased to announce the arrival of Ilovethiscity to its Euroa based stallion barn.
End Of An Era - 2025 G1 Cox Plate
“There are many ways of going forward, but only one way of standing still” - Franklin D Roosevelt.
First Stakes Win for Ilovethiscity's Moonlover
After an out of character performance in the Northwood Plume Stakes, Matt Laurie’s ultra-reliable Moonlover bounced back for a career highlight win in Wednesday’s Listed Shojun Concrete Stakes (Black Pearl Stakes) (1200m) at Geelong.
Inglis Digital - Darby Swoop on Amazing Eagle for $310,000
Scott Darby believes today’s Inglis Digital sale-topper Amazing Eagle (Capitalist) can continue along the same successful mould as the likes of former online Darby acquisitions Robusto, Caballus and Imperial Force and progress on to become a future racetrack star.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday October 22
Here is the full list of 37 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
ILovethissuccess
Two serious Group I spring classic contenders for this value Victorian sire have made him a highly desirable option for budget conscious breeders seeking an outcross sire that works.
One To Watch – Belmont
We look far and wide to highlight Breednet’s ‘One To Watch’ and today’s winner of the first race at Belmont, 3yo D’Argento filly Ladies Pro, won in the manner of a horse with a nice future and in the process shone a spotlight on her sire who recorded his ninth winner so far this month.
$140,000 NZB Ready to Run Graduate Books Ticket to G1 Victoria Derby
Bred for stamina being by Melbourne Cup winner Shoicking from a daughter of Tavistock, talented Kiwi bred three-year-old Azazel has booked his passage for the Gr.1 VRC Derby (2500m) on Saturday week after a tough victory in the Listed Roderick Insurance Brokers 3YO Geelong Classic (2200m) at Geelong on Thursday.