It was a blowout for punters when the 3-year-old Wandjina filly Infancy came with a well-timed run to capture Saturday’s Listed Tokyo City Keiba Fireball Stakes (1100m) at Randwick.
Ridden by Dylan Gibbons for Kris Lees, the Australian Bloodstock colour-bearer came with a barnstorming finish down the centre of the track to defeat Godolphin’s Group II Skyline Stakes winner Corniche (Fastnet Rock) by three-quarters of a length with the Russian Revolution filly Ballroom Bella back in third.
With her first stakes success, infancy advances her record to three wins and three thirds from nine starts with earnings of $199,625.
“She’s been a fraction disappointing in her last couple when ridden up on the speed,” Lees said.
“We gave her a freshen, and Dylan gave her a beautiful ride. I thought she would be further back, but he was able to cross a couple.
“Stalking the hot speed, she reacted well. He timed it perfectly and got a bit of black-type next to her name.
“We stretched her out to 1400m over the winter in Queensland, but this might be her go.”
Bred by Australian Bloodstock, Infancy is the first runner for Childhood (USA), an American-bred daughter of Lonhro, who won two of five starts in Ireland before failing at her only start in America.
A half-sister to three stakes winners, including the Grade III winner Baby J and the Grade 1-placed Laureate Conductor, Childhood (USA) was a 60,000 gns buy for Ronald Rauscher from the Godolphin consignment at the 2017 Tattersalls July Sale.
Childhood (USA) has an unraced Justify (USA) gelding named Perfect Justice, who was a $280,000 but for DGR Thoroughbred Services Pty Ltd (FBAA)/John Sargent Racing from the Coolmore Stud draft at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
McEvoy Mitchell Racing / Belmont Bloodstock Agency (FBAA) shelled out $60,000 for a filly by Graff consigned by HP Thoroughbreds to the 2024 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Childhood was covered by Bivouac last spring.
Infancy is the fifth stakes-winner for Larneuk Stud’s Group 1 Australian Guineas hero Wandjina (Snitzel).
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