MILESTONE OFF TO DERBY AFTER CLASSIC WIN
Winner: Milestone (Redoute’s Choice-Cannyanna)
Race: Geelong RC Geelong Classic LR (2206m)
Sold for: $600,000
Sale: 2009 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale
Vendor: Baramul Stud
Buyer: Darley Australia
Earnings: $78,575
Owner(s): Sheikh Mohammed
Trainer: Lee Freedman (Mornington)
Regally bred colt Milestone will get his chance in the Victoria Derby after he scored a strong win in the listed Geelong Classic (2206m) today.
Carrying the familiar Darley colours of Sheikh Mohammed, Milestone made it a treble for Hall of Fame trainer Lee Freedman when he got him in a driving finish.
A son of Redoute’s Choice and the stakes winning Canny Lad mare Cannyanna, Milestone attracted plenty of attention when he was offered as a yearling at last year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale by Baramul Stud.
In the end it was the team from Darley Australia who held the big when the hammer fell with the price at $600,000.
The colt, a winner two runs back, chased home another Baramul Stud bred in the recent listed Hill Smith Stakes in Adelaide.
“He’s progressive,” Freedman’s Racing Manager Sam Pritchard-Gordon said. “I think the best thing about it was the ride – it was a lovely ride and he got him to settle which he didn’t do in Adelaide.”
“He was able to finish the race off.”
“He still doesn’t really know what he’s doing just yet.”
Pritchard-Gordon said the colt would almost certainly line up in the Derby – to be run at Flemington on Saturday week.
“It’s been a good progression in distances – 1400, 1600, 1800, 2200 – I’d say Craig will come back and say he’ll be able to run out the Derby trip.”
“He’s a good actioned horse who does well around the stable. He’s got the right constitution.”
Winning rider Craig Williams said the key to today’s win was getting Milestone to settle to run out a strong 2200 metres.
“Lee said it was really important today to get him to settle,” he added saying after getting him to settle there was only one problem.
“For me it was waking him up when the time came. He steadied nicely and got into a good rhythm.”
Williams said while the colt was still very new and the Victoria Derby might be coming a little quick, he would probably still acquit himself in the Classic well.
“The way he settled and then toughed it out – I think they’d have no other option than to go that way with him.”
A half sister to Milestone, by outstanding Vinery Stud stallion More Than Ready, is set to go under the hammer at January’s 2011 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
She is a member of a quality packed draft from Baramul Stud – one of around 60 from the farmwho will be presented at the famous auction.
The sale bound filly and Milestone are both from Cannyanna – a dual Melbourne stakes winning daughter of Canny Lad.
Both of her runners to date are winners – the other being the dual Sydney victor Dancesteps.
