The winning run of two-year-olds sold by leading Australian sales company Magic Millions continued over the weekend.
There have now been 350 races won by MM juveniles this season – a record figure already with about three weeks of the season to run.
Among the weekend’s highlights were the performances of four metropolitan winning youngsters – Stralia in Melbourne, Sherocksmyworld in Sydney, Saluter in Brisbane and Hard Ball Get in Perth.
One of the most admired youngsters at last year’s Adelaide Yearling Sale, Stralia made the best start to his racetrack career with a narrow but impressive win at Flemington.
Mark Riley, who purchased the Stratum colt for $140,000, predicted a bright future for the graduate of South Australia’s Summerset Park – the birthplace of star performers Some Are Bent and Black and Bent.
“I think he’s a good horse,” Riley told reporters after the race. “You are only just seeing a part of him. He’s not really a 1000 metre horse.”
Stralia is one of five winners from the unraced Quest for Fame mare Duchess Cara – a mare already proven as a black type producer thanks to the exploits of her classy former Perth based son Mr President – an earner of over $142,000.
Duchess Cara’s unraced More Than Ready daughter Voltara, thus Stralia’s half sister, is the dam of Saturday’s impressive Adelaide winner Comearoundsundown – an in form member of the Brian Mueller stable.
Sherocksmyworld continued a remarkable season for her sire Fastnet Rock when she scored an impressive on speed win on Saturday.
A $200,000 Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase for the Blue Sky and Gai Waterhouse partnership, Sherocksmyworld made it two Sydney wins from five outings with her latest success.
“She got headed at the 100 (metre mark) but really dug deep,” winning rider Nash Rawiller said.
Sherocksmyworld, sold through the Toolooganvale draft as a yearling, is the first named foal for the twice Group Three winnin and Taranaki track record breaker Solvini – a five time winning daughter of Bertolini.
Solvini is turn is from the Brisbane two-year-old winning Paris House half sister to Group One winner Culminate (12 wins and $808,164).
Sherocksmyworld’s pedigree also includes the New Zealand based Group One winners Eileen Dubh and Captivate.
Sunshine Coast horseman Jason McLachlan backed up his emotional win in last week’s Bruce McLachlan Classic with another feature juvenile victory on Saturday.
Saluter carried the yellow and black Slade Bloodstock colours to victory when finishing too well in an all Magic Millions finish to the $250,000 QTIS 2YO Plate.
A colt by Commands, Saluter was purchased by connections for $80,000 from the Epic Farm draft at last year’s Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Now a two time winner and twice placed, Saluter has earned an impressive $209,500.
The youngster went into the race as the second favourite after a last start third to Hoss Amor in stakes grade. The favourite, proven stakes winner Discreet, was second for the Kelly Schweida stable.
“His run in the Sires’ Produce was really good but the track was a bog that day. I’ve always had a good opinion of him but he just doesn’t like wet tracks.”
“I think he’s the real deal. I’m certain he’ll come back a top class racehorse next preparation,” McLachlan added.
Saluter is the first named foal for Rosekay Heart, a twice two-year-old winning daughter of Show a Heart – a half sister to the stakes performed, 11 time winner Nellie Got There.
Tucked at the bottom of Saluter’s pedigree is the former champion Queensland galloper Vo Rogue – a winner of 26 races including two Australian Cups.
Leading Perth trainer Simon Miller predicted a bright future for the Hard Ball Get following that youngster’s debut win at Belmont on Saturday.
A $62,000 Perth Yearling Sale purchase from the Geisel Park draft, Hard Ball Get still has plenty to learn according to Miller but his class couldn’t stop him from recording a widening two and a halg length success.
“He’s got an engine. He’s a Saturday horse but mentally he’s atleast 12 months away.”
“There’s a lot of upside to him. He’s a really good horse. As a three-year-old he will come back a better horse and it’s a great bunch of owners,” Miller added.
Hard Ball Get is a well named youngster being one of 90 individual winners for Danehill’s French Group One winning son Aussie Rules.
His dam, the Spectrum mare Aqua Velva, won seven races at distances from 1200 to 2100 metres and was victorious in Melbourne.
Magic Millions juveniles this season have included stakes winning stars Pierro, Sizzling, Driefontein and Hoss Amor.
PICS – Fiona Tomlin, Sportpix, Dan Costello.
