The Gimcrack Stakes heroine Coolangatta dominates betting for the Group III Magic Millions BJ McLachlan Stakes (1200m) at Doomben on Boxing Day. Still, she is just one of three runners striving to keep their unbeaten record intact.
Spirit of Boom's Palazzo Spirit is the local hope after winning his first two starts, while one of the most interesting runners on the day is the Fastnet Rock filly Bright Blue Sky.
Purchased by David Ellis/Andrew Williams Bloodstock for $600,000 from the Coolmore draft at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Bright Blue Sky won her only start, the Listed Fasttrack Insurance 2yo Stakes at Te Rapa, for the Hong Kong-bound Jamie Richards.
Everything, including her racing style and deep, deep pedigree, suggests that Bright Blue Sky will improve with time.
For over half a century, this branch of a world-renowned family is rarely without a top-class performer. They are descendants of the top-class Le Filou (FR) mare Gay Poss; however, the family had its roots in Bill Alexander's famous 'Rose" family dating back to the 1920s in New Zealand.
Trained by Bart Cummings, Gay Poss won the AJC Oaks, VATC Caulfield Stakes, VRC Craiglee Stakes, Kewney Stakes, and South Australian St Leger.
Gay Poss left the Winter Stakes winner Anythings Possible, but her name lives on through her daughter, the great matriarch, My Tricia.
The daughter of Hermes (GB) was unraced but produced eleven winners from her twelve foals, including five stakes-winners, four of which were by Sir Tristram.
They were led by the triple Group 1 winner and excellent stallion Grosvenor.
My Tricia had seven named fillies, five of them produced stakes-winners, and most have thriving offshoots.
Even the lone daughter not to have a stakes-winner, My Tripos (Sir Tristram), is the granddam of Group 1 Queensland Oaks winner Miss Keepsake and Group II winner Villifye.
My Tricia's first foal Concia (First Consul) is the dam of AJC Oaks heroine Mahaya and the Group III Sweet Embrace Stakes winner Shadea, dam of Lonhro, Niello and Shannara.
The lone stakes-winning daughter of My Tricia, not by Sir Tristram is the Listed VATC Health Stakes winner My Marseillaise (Marceau). She is the dam of Listed winners Bon Cher and De Lisle.
Grosvenor's sister Les Lilas is the dam of Group II winner Requiem and Listed winner Laurel Grove, the dam of Group II Sandown Guineas winner Cayambe.
The final two foals of My Tricia were by Sir Tristram's champion son Zabeel.
The stakes-placed Tricia Ann is the dam of Group II winner La Sizeranne, while My Tricia's final foal Ana Zeel is the dam of Group III MVRC Champagne Stakes winner Estelle Collection, the dam of Australian Horse Of The Year Lankan Rupee.
La Sizeranne's stakes-placed sister Napa Sky is the dam of Blue Blue Sky (Lonhro), the dam of Bright Blue Sky.
Apollo Ng purchased Blue Blue Sky for $120,000 at the Gold Coast Yearling Sale in 2013. Bred by Limerick Lane Thoroughbreds, Blue Blue Sky won a maiden at Geelong for David Hayes in an 11-start career.
Consigned to the 2018 National Broodmare Sale by Bell View Park Stud, Blue Blue Sky was knocked down to Colm Santry Bloodstock/Demi O'Byrne for $240,000.
Pike Racing purchased the Zoustar colt she was carrying for $210,000 at Karaka in 2020.
Named Mr Blue Sky, he has placed in three of four starts to date.
Blue Sky Blue has a yearling filly by American Pharoah (USA) and missed to the Triple Crown winner last season.
Bright Blue Sky is the first stakes-winner from the fourteenth crop by Coolmore flagship stallion Fastnet Rock.
The sire of 183 stakes-winners worldwide, Fastnet Rock has nine lots catalogued for the Magic Millions, including a half-brother to 8-time Group 1 winner More Joyous from the final foal of Queensland Oaks heroine Sunday Joy (Sunday Silence).
