As the only foal of her sire and dam, the Anthony Cummings-trained Stray has a burden to carry, but she just might have a good race in her judging on her win in a 1400m 3yo maiden at Randwick-Kensington on Wednesday.
Jason Collett gave the Thunder Fantasy filly the run of the race. She savaged the line to defeat the Maurice (JPN) filly Taizai by two and three-quarter lengths with a further one and a half lengths back to the Frankel colt Money From The Sky in third.
Making her sixth start, the Grant Bloodstock colour-bearer has been racing in elite company since a fourth at Randwick behind Paulele at two.
She then ran into a future Group 1 winner, Profondo in a 1400m maiden before Cummings through in the deep end in the Listed Dulcify Stakes, Group III Gloaming Stakes, and Group 1 Flight Stakes.
Bookmakers shortened the quote of Stray in the ATC Australian oaks from $50 to $26.
“She has had no luck at all, had bad barriers and should have beaten Profondo first-up, which is pretty good form,” Cummings said.
“She was arrogant at the finish today. Hopefully she has the luck that deserted her last time.”
Stray was bred by her trainer after he was gifted the Uncle Mo (USA) mare Playa Del Carmen who was ruled out of racing due to throat issues.
Cummings sent the mare to his Group II Autumn Stakes winner Thunder Fantasy.
Owned by Andy Chiu, Thunder Fantasy was at Princes Farm where he covering the Chiu-owned mare Pet Monster (Starcraft). When she did not go in foal, Cumming sent Playa Del Carmen to test that the problem was not the stallion.
The result was Stray.
A son of Lucky Owners, Thunder Fantasy placed in a Group 1 Victoria Derby won by Polanski, Group 1 Australian Guineas behind Shamus Award and Criterion, and a Group 1 Rosehill Guineas behind Criterion.
He made seven starts in Hong Kong and had a decision over Redkirk Warrior in the Listed Classic cup at Sha Tin.
Thunder Fantasy covered one mare in his second and final season in 2018. It was Pet Monster who failed to get in foal again.
Playa Del Carmen has a similar tale of woe.
She missed to Starspangledbanner and Rubick in 2018 and missed to Denman in 2019. There has not been a return on her 2020 cover by Your Song and was covered by Saxon Warrior (JPN) last spring.
