The $250,000 Magic Millions Rising Stars 3YO & 4YO F & M (1300m) featured a big field of promising fillies and mares with Deep Field filly Latakia confirming her potential with a stylish win.
Trained by Tony Gollan, Latakia was impressive when bolting in on debut at Doomben in November, but was then a touch disappointing when only sixth to Soothsayer at her next start in December.
She bounced back from that run to surge home under hard riding from Craig Williams to win by half a length with connections keen to see her take her place in the $2million Magic Millions 3YO Guineas next week.
Tony Gollan knows what makes a good Deep Field filly having prepared the brilliant stakes-winner Isotope and is confident Latakia has what it takes.
“She was quite relaxed coming into the straight and she was the first horse under riding, but gee she responded well,” said Gollan.
“She’s a filly we have a huge opinion of and is a beautiful horse. She was a lovely yearling when John (Foote) bought her and she just need that little bit of time so it’s good to see her win a race like this and hopefully she can back up next week.
“She’s a gorgeous filly with so much upside, we’ve only scratched the surface of her.”
The most expensive yearling filly by Deep Field sold in 2021, Latakia was a $520,000 purchase for Black Soil Bloodstock/John Foote Bloodstock/Gollan Racing from the Attunga Stud draft at Magic Millions.
She is a half-sister to Group III Maribyrnong Plate winner Vinicunka, who was also second to Lyre in the Group II Blue Diamond Prelude.
Latakia is the fifth winner from as many to race out of the Flying Spur mare Xandretta, a half-sister to Group I AJC Champagne Stakes winner Carry On Cutie.
Xandretta foaled a sister to Latakia on August 30.
Newgate Farm's Deep Field has 54 catalogued for the Magic Millions.
