Charles Fipke made the trip to Japan to watch homebred Shirl's Speight (USA) finish ninth in the Group 1 The February Stakes at Tokyo on Sunday. The news was much better for the Canadian industrialist just moments later when his Redoute's Choice filly Soul Choice captured the Listed Kevin Sharkie Tasmanian Oaks (2100m) at Launceston.
With Zac Spain standing in for the suspended Jordan Childs, the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained filly made all the running.
Despite being made to work from the 600m, Soul Choice toughed it out bravely to defeat the Danny O'Brien-trained Hoops (Tivaci) by a half-length with a further length and a quarter back to the Trevor Andrews-trained Sirius Princess (Hooked).
"It wasn't as easy to watch as what it was in the Strutt Stakes, but we know how gutsy this filly is. She showed that at Flemington two starts back, and we knew she was in for a fight today," said Rebecca Shanks, who is in charge of the Waterhouse/Bott team in Melbourne.
"She has done a bit of travelling, so we will take her home and assess where she is. She has probably deserved a break, but there might be a nice bit of programming there somewhere.
"We have been lucky in having some lovely horses to travel here and fortunate to have them with Adam Trinder.
"It’s very exciting to get black-type for Mr Fipke and his breeding operation with this filly, and it’s onwards and upwards for her.”
A homebred for Charles Fipke, Soul Choice advances her record to three wins and three seconds from six starts with earnings of $233,940.
The daughter of Redoute’s Choice is the third winner from four to race for the stakes-placed Perfect Soul mare Thislilsoulofmine (CAN) from her time in Australia.
Her first foal, Choice Of Mine, a brother to Soul Choice, won one of 16 starts and was stakes-placed for Joseph O’Brien in Ireland.
A descendent of the hugely influential Best In Show (USA), Thislilsoulofmine (CAN) has a 2yo colt by Real Steel (JPN), and a yearling colt by I Am Invincible. She was repatriated to the United States on December 2021.
