Winner: Fifteen Carat (Show a Heart-Brynica)
Race: SCTC Sunshine Coast Guineas LR (1600m)
Sold for $22,000
Sale: 2008 Magic Millions QTIS 600 Yearling Sale
Vendor: Warrandale Stud
Buyer: Robert Stewart
Passed for $70,000
Sale: 2008 Magic Millions Horses in Training Sale
Vendor: Robert Stewart
Reserve: $75,000
Earnings: $192,400
Owner(s): Mrs BA Bates, R Merkur, PA Kaljo, Ms M Jackson & RC Maddison
Trainer: Howard Wilson (Gold Coast)
Stathi Katsidis got an extra buzz out of winning today’s listed Sunshine Coast Guineas (1600m) at Caloundra aboard promising three-year-old Fifteen Carat.
The three-year-old gelding is part owned by Katsidis’ fiancee Melissa Jackson and Katisidis is predicting a bright future for the son of Show a Heart.
“He’s very good but right now I’d rate him a Group Two or Group Three horse,” Katsidis told AAP.
“But I think he can go to the next level with a little more improvement,” he added.
Trainer Howard Wilson said Fifteen Carat would be sent for an immediate spell before connections choose a program of feature races for later in the year.
“He’ll go for a spell now and then go to Sydney for the spring, but I honestly don’t know for what races.”
“I was thinking about Melbourne, but that’s off the agenda now,” he added.
Wilson has always held a high opinion of the three-year-old, who was originally this preparation on a Queensland Derby preparation.
“He ran a great race to finish third in the Queensland Guineas behind Rothesay but I still think he could have beaten him if he could have been a little closer.”
A $22,000 purchase for Robert Stewart from the draft of Warrandale Stud at the 2008 Magic Millions QTIS 600 Yearling Sale, Fifteen Carat is turning out a great value buy.
With three wins and five minor placings from just 14 starts, Fifteen Carat has already earned his connections an impressive $192,400.
As a two-year-old Fifteen Carat was also put through his paces at the 2008 Magic Millions National Horses in Training Sale at the Gold Coast.
On that occasion his bidding stopped $5,000 short of his $75,000 reserve and was retained by the vendor.
The winner is a gelded son of Show a Heart – a former outstanding racehorse and winner of the Caulfield Guineas – who is now a leading sire based at Glenlogan Park in Queensland.
He is the 18th stakes winner for his sire, following in the hoofsteps of stars including Heart of Dreams, Mimi Lebrock, Toorak Toff, Rightfully Yours and Gotta Have Heart.
Fifteen Carat is the first winner for the Snippets mare Brynica, a daughter of the stakes winning Polish Patriot mare Little Pattie.
It is the well known Just Now family that includes the stakes winners McClintock, Telltina and Lolita Star.
Meanwhile, earlier in the day there wasn’t a dry eye in the winner’s stall when Gentle Giant won the inaugural running of the Bruce McLachlan 2YO Classic.
Prepared by McLachlan’s son Jason, Gentle Giant was named after his father, who died last year.
McLachlan told AAP the win provided him with his biggest thrill in racing.
“This means more to me than anything, and I mean that. It means more than the Golden Slipper and the Magic Millions put together.”
“It’s just great to be able to win it and to do it for these owners and my mother is an overwhelming experience.
“My mother’s my life and to share it with her makes it more special,” he added.
