The $1million ATC Percy Sykes Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday attracted a very competitive field of promising stakes fillies, but it was the Annabel Neasham trained maiden by Hellbent that claimed victory at just her second start in the colours of Lizzie Jelfs.
Kristilli produced a terrific run on debut when finishing second at Randwick on the Kensington track behind Kimochi, but was able to turn the tables on the daughter of Brave Smash (Jpn) at their second meeting.
Kimochi hit the front and looked a certain winner, but Kristilli charged to the line for Joao Moreira to surge clear and win by two lengths over I Am Invincible filly Tiz Invincible with Kimochi in third place to give Yarraman sires the trifecta.
A $200,000 Inglis Classic purchase for Annabel Neasham / B McGuire from the Yarraman Park draft, Kristilli has already banked $704,000 in her first two starts for a large group of owners headed by respected racing commentator Lizzie Jelfs.
Jelfs and Neasham launched a syndication business together last year and Kristilli is the first stakes-winner for their new initiative.
“It’s not just about us, it’s about the people that have invested in us as well and have trusted us to pick them horses and we’ve been able to find a really nice one. I didn’t pick her out at the sales, but I loved her from seeing her at trackwork,” Jelfs said.
“It’s a dream come true for us. She’s our first two year-old runner in a stakes race, so onwards and upwards.”
Kristilli is the second winner and first stakes-winner from Sognani and has a real Yarraman Park flavour to her pedigree with her first two dams by Magic Albert and Catbird, who both stood very successfully at the Mitchell family owned farm.
Sognani is a winning daughter of a half-sister to Group II winner She Will Be Loved from the family of Group I winners Lucia Valentina, Danzdanzdance and All Thrills Too.
Sognani has been married to Hellbent and her yearling filly, the full sister to Kristilli, was not surprisingly bought by Annabel Neasham / Lizzie Jelfs from Yarraman at Inglis Classic this year for $170,000.
Sognani had a colt by Hellbent last spring and is back in foal to him again.
Kristilli is the second stakes-winner for Hellbent, who covered 165 mares last spring at a fee of $22,000 and goes from strength to strength.
