Tough performance by the two-year-old Snitzel debutant Waimarie who made all the running in the Pipe Pro Directional Drill Maiden (1100m) at Ballarat on Tuesday.
Ridden by Daniel Moor for Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, Waimarie was niggled along for most of the trip and looked likely to be swamped on straightening. Despite racing greenly, the daughter of Snitzel kept kicking to defeat Godolphin’s Street Boss (USA) colt Pantelone by a length, with the No Nay Never (USA) debutant Nodachi a long-neck back in third.
“I had to make use of her out the gate. I was on a horse that had plenty of trials and knew fitness would not be an issue,” Moor said.
“I thought she may not have the nous to pick herself up and extend again, but she did, so that is a good redeeming quality.”
Carrying the colours of the Cook family’s Mystery Downs, Waimarie was a $350,000 purchase for Andrew Williams Bloodstock (FBAA) / Busuttin Racing from the Arrowfield Stud draft at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
A half-sister to the Group 1 BRC JJ Atkins Stakes winner Sacred Elixir, Waimarie is the third winner from as many to race for the Stravinsky (USA) mare Baltika who tragically died a few months after foaling Waimarie.
Bred by Graham de Gruchy, Baltika is out of the unraced Zabeel mare Zambuca, a three-quarter sister to Brew, Fiumicino, Bubble and Tremec.
Zamcuca is a daughter of de Gruchy’s 6-time Group 1 winner Horlicks, the memorable heroine of the 1989 Japan Cup.
Waimarie is the ninth 2yo winner of the season in Australia for Snitzel, who has a sizeable lead in the race for champion 2yo Sire.
