In a Best On Breeding feature on Group 1 ATC Flight Stakes winner Funstar and her Group 1 QTC Oaks winning half-sister Youngstar, it was noted that their dam Starspangled (IRE) arrived in Australia carrying a filly foal by the great Galileo.
That filly was consigned to the 2010 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale where she was knocked down to Dermot Farrington Bloodstock for $110,000.
Named Baggy Green, she was sent to Guy Walter for whom she won a 1600 maiden a Goulburn. The daughter of Galileo was back in the ring at the 2013 Inglis Australian Bloodstock Sale where she was purchased by Gordon Cunningham for just $23,000.
It proved money well spent as Baggy Green is the dam of the top-class Ocean Park mare Tofane who added to a pair of Group III wins with a triumph at the highest level in Saturday’s Group 1 Schweppes All Aged Stakes (1600m) at Randwick.
The Mike Moroney-trained mare spoiled a fairytale for the Aquis Farm-bound Pierro entire Pierata who went down fighting by a half-head with the So You Think mare Fasika two and a half lengths back in third.
Given a gun ride by Opie Bosson, Tofane advances her record to 5 wins, 2 seconds and 1 third from 14 starts with earnings of $803,220.
“The draw helped her, she got into a beautiful spot following the horse to beat,” Bosson said.
“I go back home (to New Zealand) on Tuesday, then we will have to have a discussion on whether we move the family back to Australia, we have a few things to sought out first.”
Bred by red by Curraghmore Stud’s Gordon Cunningham, Tofane was entered for the 2017 NZB Select Yearling Sale but was withdrawn. After doing her early education in Moroney's Matamata property, Tofane won an 820-metre trial at Te Teko after which she was purchased by a syndicate of Moroney’s loyal clients.
Tofane is the only winner from three starters to date out of Baggy Green who had a Reliable Man colt knocked down to John O'Shea Racing / Laurel Oak Bloodstock for $220,000 at Karaka earlier this year.
After missing to So You Think in 2018, Baggy Green was covered by Ocean Park again last year.
Tofane becomes the second Group 1 winner for Waikato Stud’s WS Cox Plate hero Ocean Park who has had a wonderful season.
