Saturday's Aquis Farm Ladies Day QTIS Two-Years-Old Handicap at the Gold Coast was chockful of Magic Millions 2yo Classic aspirants.
In an action-packed race, the two favourites Paquirri and Boom Girl looked set to fight the race out, despite both having done plenty of work in the run, but down the outside with giant strides came the Epaulette filly Katy's Daughter who headed Paquirri (I Am Invincible) close to home to win by a short-neck with first-starter Boom Girl (Spirit Of Boom) a neck back in third.
An encouraging first-up second behind Ardoyne Road at Doomben on December 2, Katy's Daughter raced into 2yo Classic contention and becomes the first Australian winner for Darley Stud's Group 1 ATC Golden Rose Stakes and Group 1 BRC Doomben 10000 winner Epaulette (Commands).
Purchased for a bargain basement $10,000 by trainer Steve O'Dea at the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale, Katy's Daughter is the fourth foal and fourth winner out of the Listed QTC Sir Douglas Wadley Handicap winner Kiss Me Katy (Mull Of Kintyre).
All four were trained by O'Dea as was Kiss Me Katy who credited her young trainer with his first stakes winner.
"I think Katy's Daughter is the best of the four that I have trained. She is going to relish 1200 metres and maybe a little bit further," O'Dea told AAP.
"She is off to the Magic Millions now and I am sure she will do us proud,"
A half-sister to the stakes-placed Dream Kisses (Dream Ahead), Katy's Daughter races for a women's syndicate that includes the family of the filly's breeder Joe Rapisarda.
Kiss Me Katy is a half-sister to the stakes-winning Lion Heart mare Bianca Jewel who hails from the family of the multiple Group 1 placed mare The Cloisters.
Epaulette has 10 yearlings heading to the Gold Coast Magic Millions, 18 catalogued for the Inglis Classic and seven at the Inglis Premier.
