Purchased for just $33,000 from the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale by her trainer Matthew Smith, improving Choisir filly Festival Dancer ensured her future worth as a broodmare when scoring a bold win over the colts in the $160,000 Group III Spring Stakes (1600m) at Newcastle on Saturday.
It took 10 starts for Festival Dancer to break her maiden in a 1600m race at Goulburn on October 5 and since then she’s been undefeated.
The daughter of Choisir won subsequent races at Kembla and Goulburn again before fronting up to Black Type company for this assignment.
She led all the way for rising star apprentice Dylan Gibbons and kept a good gallop to the line to win by two and a half lengths notching her fourth consecutive win.
“She’s got better with every run and her work has got better with every run,” said Matthew Smith.
“She paraded beautifully today, that was the best I’ve seen her parade and I was confident when I saw how calm she was as she has been a bit of a high-strung filly.
“It’s a pretty good effort to lead all the way over a mile here on a day like today, it was a really good strong run.
“We’ll put her away now and get her ready for the autumn.”
With four wins and three placings from 13 starts, Festival Dancer has already won over $166,000 in prizemoney for her lucky owners who include Frank and Christine Cook of Mystery Downs in whose colours she runs.
Consigned to Inglis Classic by Toolooganvale Farm, Festival Dancer was bred by Dr D Hummelstad, who retains a share in her ownership.
She is the best of three winners from Group III placed import Festival Princess (IRE) a Barathea mare from the family of German Group I winner Ransom O’War and Australian Group II winner Star of the Seas and stakes-winner Spieth.
Festival Princess has a yearling colt by Pride of Dubai.
Festival Dancer has the honour of becoming the 100th stakes-winner for now retired Choisir, the original Royal Ascot hero for Australia, who carved out a highly successful career for Coolmore at stud in both hemispheres.
