It was a Widden Stud sired trifecta in the $350,000 Group III ATC Magic Night Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on Saturday with first and third home Drifting and Chateau Miraval by first season sire Zousain, while Trapeze Artist filly Fly Fly split the pair to snatch second.
Trained by Peter and Paul Snowden, Drifting kicked off her career with an easy win at Hawkesbury last month and then showed her talent with a good second to Bold Bastille in the Listed VRC Furphy Stakes at Flemington on March 2.
Returned to Sydney and stepping up to 1200m for the first time, Drifting enjoyed a good run in transit for Tom Sherry and was strong to the line winning by more than a length.
Paul Snowden was non-committal as regards Drifting backing up next Saturday for the Group I ATC Golden Slipper from which she is now exempt from ballot.
“We’ll give her every opportunity and she has all week,” said Paul Snowden.
“She’s pretty tough and has bounced back through her runs pretty quick and she’s been to Melbourne and back and it hasn’t fazed her at all, so it will be up to her and we’ll probably know on Tuesday.”
Tom Sherry won the maiden on Drifting and has been keen to stick with her.
“When she flattens out she gives you that good feel and I think if something challenged her she would have gone again,” Sherry said.
“She has a lovely demeanour and a great attitude, so we’ll see where she ends up from here.”
A $160,000 Inglis Classic purchase from Murrulla Stud for Snowden Racing / William Johnson Bloodstock, Drifting runs for a big group of happy owners including the Snowden family and has already banked nearly $200,000 with two wins and a second from three starts.
Bred by Baddock Bloodstock, Drifting is the third winner from three foals to race from Backpacker Express, a half-sister by Big Brown (USA) to Group II winning filly Downhill Racer from the family of Group II winner Schubert.
Backpacker Express was bought by Murrulla Stud at the 2022 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale for just $20,000, so is looking like an absolute bargain! She had a filly by Heroic Valour last spring and is now in foal to Profiteer.
Murrulla Stud offered the full sister to Drifting at the Magic Millions Gold Coast March Yearling Sale, but she passed in shy of her $100,000 reserve.
Drifting is the first stakes-winner for Zoustar’s Group II winning son Zousain, who has had great support in his first four seasons at stud and covered 189 mares last spring at a fee of $22,000.
