Star mare Sweet Idea stormed home to win Saturday’s Galaxy Handicap at Rosehill and notch the most deserved Group One victory of the season to date.
An outstanding daughter of Snitzel, Sweet Idea settled midfield before coming with a well timed run under Blake Shinn to score a barnstorming win.
A $240,000 purchase from Arrowfield Stud at the 2012 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Sweet Idea sent her earnings past the $2.4 million mark with her Galaxy triumph.
Trainer Gai Waterhouse was beaming after the win of one of the country’s most talented and popular racemares.
“An outstanding mare,” Waterhouse said. “I’m so thrilled for the connections – they wanted the Group One and now they’ve got it!”
“Blake rode her magically he gave her time to settle and she was too good – she stormed home.”
Sweet Idea races in the colours of the Gold Coast’s Henderson Racing team and brothers David and Luke were both of course and thrilled with the victory.
“I’m just so excited,” David Henderson said. “She deserved it and we’ve chased the Group One – that is what she needed on her resume – it’s complete now.”
“She’s probably just a length off being a superstar.”
“It’s a great thrill,” Luke Henderson said. “We’ll probably have one more run in Sydney and then take her home to Queensland to sweep the floor there!”
Winning rider Blake Shinn gave the mare great credit for the success.
“What a horse,” Shinn beamed moments after the race. “She’s a warhorse. She’s been in the placings in a number of Group Ones and she was third in a Slipper.”
“She backs up year after year and it’s great for Gai and the connections for the horse to be recognised at this top level.”
Sweet Idea, the fifth individual Group One winner for former Magic Millions graduate Snitzel, is one of three winners for her dam Flidais, two of them stakes winners.
Flidais earned black type by running third in a Group Three Adrian Knox Stakes at Randwick.
As well as Sweet Idea she is the dam of Magic Millions graduate Rush – a 10 time winner in Malaysia and Singapore. He won the Anniversay Cup at Penang and was second in the Magic Millions Juvenile Championship at Kranji.
Winner: Sweet Idea
Breeding: Snitzel-Flidais (Timber Country)
Race: ATC Galaxy Handicap G1 (1100m)
Sold for: $240,000
Sale: 2012 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale
Vendor: Arrowfield Stud
Buyer: Gai Waterhouse & James Harron Bloodstock
Earnings: $2,415,350
Owner(s): D Henderson, L Henderson, Nick Vass Bloodstock (Mgrs: N & A Vass), W Cook, D Maher, G Scott, TL Vogel, B Lynton, C Brown & M Allen
Trainer: Gai Waterhouse (Randwick)
PICS – Lisa Grimm.
