Returning to Coolmore Australia this spring, Triple Crown hero Justify (USA) added a fourth Australian winner to his tally at Warrnambool on Wednesday when Scentify scored a determined debut win.
Faced with heavy 10 conditions in the open juvenile over 1200m, the Maher and Eustace trained Scentify was strong to the line for Ben Allen to outpoint the favourite Loose of Gin to win by a head.
“He put the writing on the wall with his last trial. The ground was rain affected, although probably not as affected as this was,” said Ciaron Maher.
“I said to Benny when I was legging him up that he’s a nice horse, but probably six months away.
“It was great for Cam Bennett of Flying Start Syndications, we’ve had some top line Group I horses for them and this horse has still got a lot in front of him, but to do that today was a super win and a great job from the team.”
A $125,000 Inglis Classic purchase from the Newgate Farm draft for Ciaron Maher Bloodstock / Flying Start Syndications / Pinhook Bloodstock, Scentify was bred by Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber’s UK based Watership Down Stud.
They purchased his dam Fine Scent on the advice of McKeever Bloodstock Ltd for $210,000 from the 2020 Inglis Chairman’s Sale when she was in foal to Justify with the plan of sending her to Too Darn Hot. Scentify was foaled at Yarraman Park and sold as a weanling in their draft at the 2021 Inglis Weanling Sale for $145,000.
Scentify is the fourth Australian winner for Justify, who is poised to be Champion Australian First Season sire and will stand at a fee to be announced.
