Sister Madly continued her outstanding run for new connections when she withstood a wall of quality sprinters to win the Group Two Salinger Stakes (1200m) at Flemington today.

With proven big race rider Damien Oliver riding hard, Sister Madly held out Rarefied to win by a nose, while Temple of Boom, flying late, was third, another short half head back.

The mare has raced on just four occasions for the Segenhoe Stud outfit – for two wins and two seconds (to Sepoy and More Joyous).

“We weren’t very confident and we didn’t think she was a $4 chance. Her form suggested she was entitled to be favourite but she’d shown us signs during the week that she’d had enough.”

“They were strong signs, even ger blood wasn’t good. She was also in a really bad mood at the races today as well.”

“We came here just hoping and to be honest, if it hadn’t have been for Kevin (Maloney, owner) and his wife coming down with their family, I would have thoughts about pulling the plug.”

“She really needs good speed on and as you know, in these 1200 metre races when they don’t have to vie for position, it means a lack of pace early so once she gets travelling she is hard to control.”

“He (Damien Oliver) is on fire today and when you get into a close finish you always feel confident with him.”

Sister Madly joined the Sadler stable after being purchased by Bill Mitchell on behalf of Segenhoe Stud for $1 million at June’s Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.

Since the sale the mare has earned over $380,000.

“Kevin (Maloney) said to me that there was no pressure as far as I was concerned.”

“They paid a million dollars for her mainly as a broodmare and said if we can get anything out of her on the racetrack that is a bonus.”

“He just said ‘see how you go with her.”

Sadler said the mare would now be spelled with Group One sprints in the autumn in mind.

“We’ll be looking at races like the Lightning, Newmarket and the Robert Sangster Stakes with her – hopefully we can get a Group One win on her.”

The win was the third big win on the day for champion jockey Damien Oliver.

“I’ve known Sads since I was a boy and he and Lee (Freedman) used to kick my butt around Flemington as a teenager so it was great to get a win for him,” Oliver said.

“She is very tough,” Oliver said of Sister Madly. “She was probably going better early in her preparation, when she first raced.”

“She was out on her feet the last 100 (metres) and she was really brave to find what we needed to win,” he added.

Sister Madly is one of the most valuable race mares in the country.

A daughter of champion sire Redoute’s Choice, Sister Madly is a half sister to the former champion Hong Kong based sprinter Silent Witness.

An 18 time winner, Silent Witness won nine Group One races and earned the equivalent of $9.8 million.

Winner: Sister Madly
Breeding: Redoute’s Choice-Jade Tiara (Bureaucracy)
Race: VRC Salinger Stakes G2 (1200m)
Sold for: $1,000,000
Sale: 2011 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale
Vendor: Edinburgh Park Stud
Buyer: Segenhoe Stud
Earnings: $680,180
Owner(s): Segenhoe Stud Australia (Mgr: K Maloney)
Trainer: John Sadler (Flemington)