Once Were Wild, one of the star mares catalogued for June’s Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale, will head to the Sydney Cup after a brilliant all the way win in the Group Two Chairman’s Handicap (2600m) at Randwick today.
In a bold front running performance Once Were Wild led her rivals a merry dance – holding a big lead throughout and importantly for connections a comprehensive margin at the post.
A winner of the Group One AJC Oaks at the track about 12 months ago, Once Were Wild sent her earnings soaring toward half a million dollars when she cruised home to beat Anudjawun and C’est La Guerre.
“It’s so lovely,” winning trainer Gai Waterhouse said after the race. “It’s almost a year to the day that she won a race – but that happened to be a Group One race.”
“Since then this mare has kind of been dormant – maybe it happens to we girls I don’t know – but really and truly she’s so special.”
“We rode her aggresively today. She’s taken an age to strike form and to really get fit. It was a joy to watch her.”
Waterhouse said it was onwards and upwards to the Group One Sydney Cup.
“She’s heading to the Cup and I’m off to the Cup as well,” she added.
Winning rider Nash Rawiller said it was nice to see the Johannesburg mare transfer her good track work to the racecourse in a Group Two feature.
“It’s been a bit frustrating,” Rawiller said. “I’d said to Singo (part owner John Singleton) that she’d been going well on the track – but we hadn’t got her into a race where things had suited her.”
“The other day the race might have been there for the taking – but she had the blinkers on and it just made her over race a bit.”
“Today that was the key with the blinkers off, back at home. I was very confident a long way from home.”
“That (the Sydney Cup) has been the main aim the whole way. She should be there, better again,” Rawiller summed up.
Once Were Wild has been a great moneyspinner for connections after being purchased by English based agent Amanda Skiffington for $50,000 at the 2008 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
The Kulani Park (as agent) offering is one of two stakes performers and four winners for the 100 per cent winner producer Wildesong.
A multiple city winner in her own right by Unbridled’s Song, Wildesong is also the sam of the Malaysian stakes performer and four time winner Testa Key.
Wildesong is a half sister to the stakes performed 10 time winner Planagram.
Once Were Wild has been catalogued for June’s Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale. Also catalogued was today’s Group race runner-up Hidden Wonder.
Winner: Once Were Wild (Johannesburg-Wildesong)
Race: ATC Chairman’s Handicap G2 (2600m)
Sold for: $50,000
Sale: 2008 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale
Vendor: Kulani Park (As Agent)
Buyer: Amanda Skiffington
Earnings: $496,050
Owner(s): Strawberry Hill Stud Syndicate (Mgr: J Singleton), M Carnegie & T Kennedy
Trainer: Gai Waterhouse (Randwick)
