Arrowfield Stud’s Pariah had two three-year-old fillies at the head of betting for a 1200m maiden at Geelong on Sunday, and they finished first and third.
Without Envy went off an odds-on favourite off the strength of a debut second to the promising Thron Bone at Flemington on July 2, but she had no answer to the strong finishing Desiah.
Ridden by Teodore Nugent for Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, Deshiah scored a two-length win over the Lindsey Smith-trained Captain Britain (IRE), who also finished fast to edge out Without Envy for second.
The runner-up Captain Britain (IRE) is interesting. He is a 4yo son of Camelot, making his debut, who was a €160,000 purchase at the 2020 Orby Sale.
Desiah was second to Portray when on debut at Cranbourne on May 6. Portray franked that form when winning at Sandown before a credible fourth in Saturday’s Listed Musk Creek Farm Atlantic Jewel at Moonee Valley. The daughter of Ribchester was just a length and a quarter behind her stablemate Troach.
Desiah holds a nomination for the Group 1 Schweppes Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on October 12 and carries the confidence of the stable.
“She jumped well and really extended,” Nugent said.
“She has trialled well, and once out there, she gave me a beautiful feeling. I think she has a bit in store.
“She is still very new to it all but does everything so easily.
“We had the run of the race behind the favourite, and once she got the split, she lengthened for me.
She will get over ground for sure. She has upside and can only come on from that. She got through the (heavy) track without a worry.”
A $100,000 purchase for Ciaron Maher Bloodstock from the Arrowfield Stud draft at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Desiah is the first foal of the Animal Kingdom (USA) mare Desert Flower.
Trained by Paul Messara, Desert Flower started just once, a second over 1000m at Scone on Christmas Eve 2016.
Desert Flower is a half-sister to eight-time winner Wild Rain (Manhattan Rain), whose four stakes wins included the Group II MVRC Ian McEwen Stakes and was third to Extreme Choice and Heatherly in the Group 1 Moir Stakes.
From the family of the champion Northerly, Desert Flower has been faithful to Pariah in her four seasons at stud.
Darby Bloodstock purchased Desert Flower for $32,500 from Arrowfield at the 2022 Inglis April (Late) Online Sale when carrying a full sibling to Desiah.
