| Untapped filly Sheeza Belter produced one of the best juvenile wins of the season with a stunning win in today’s $250,000 Magic Millions WA 2YO Classic (1200m, RL) at Pinjarra. |
| Allowed to settle back in the field by rider Clint Johnston-Porter, Sheeza Belter produced a powerful and sustained sprint from the turn and reeled in the leaders late for a great win. The win provided young Ascot horseman Luke Fernie with the biggest win of his training career. “I was pretty happy to see her flying down the outside,” Fernie said. “Up until then I’d been having a mongrel day!” “She’s done a great job. She’s a great horse. Justin (Warwick) picked her out at the sales and she’s been nothing but a gem since she lobbed.” “She showed a lot of grit today to run that second horse down, she’s a really nice horse – she’s going places,” Fernie added. The win capped a remarkable day for star rider Clint Johnston-Porter – his fourth win. He was beaming to capture the feature juvenile contest. “I had pretty high confidence on the corner,” Johnston-Porter reported. “I knew what I had underneath me.” “It was a bit of a stuff up last start. We rode her a bit close. Today we rode her back and I was in my happy spot.” “She’s a brilliant horse and she gives you a really good feel,” Johnston-Porter added. Sheeza Belter was a $50,000 buy for part owner, former trainer Justin Warwick from the Mt Hallowell Stud draft at the 2021 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale. “It’s a whole new experience,” Warwick said of being a part owner, but not trainer. “There’s no pressure – you can go and enjoy yourself and have a good day out.” “I was always pretty confident that without bad luck she could run in the first three.” “This is literally like winning a Perth Cup – it’s that good a feeling.” Warwick said he selected the filly because she reminded him of his former star sprinting mare Quilista. “She had similar attributes. I thought she was mature for her age and she is from a very good family including Showy Chloe and Special Reward,” Warwick added. Sheeza Belter is a member of the first crop of Spendthrift Farm‘s Gold Standard and becomes the first stakes winner for the Stan Fox Stakes winning son of Sebring. She’s Greysful, trained by former AFL star Hayden Ballantyne was brave in second place and being eligible for the Magic Millions WA Racing Women’s initiative she swept the major slice of the $75,000 bonus. A last start Perth winner, She’s Greysful is owned by 54 ladies – a large number of who flooded the mounting yard post race to celebrate. Meanwhile, last year’s Magic Millions WA Racing Women’s winner Pixie Chix produced a whirlwind finish to win the $200,000 Magic Millions WA 3YO Trophy (1200m, RL) earlier in the day. Trained by David Harrison, Pixie Chix flew late in the race under Patrick Carbery and won in impressive fashion. A $20,000 purchase by leading local bloodstock agent John Chalmers, Pixie Chix is raced by 13 ladies and the talented filly has now won about $200,000 from a handful of starts. The three placegetters, led by Pixie Chix, provided their close relations with important pedigree updates heading into the 2022 Perth Yearling Sale. Gold Front Thoroughbred Breeding and Racing will present a Safeguard half brother to Pixie Chix at the Swan Valley complex as Lot 217. Meanwhile minor placegetters Gorgeous Gossip and Black Fantasy boosted their sale bound half sisters with new black type for the fillies from Willaview Park (by Playing God, Lot 312) and Scenic Lodge (by Magnus, Lot 118) respectively. The 2022 Perth Yearling Sale will be held on February 22 and 23. To view the online catalogue click here. |
