After winning her last two jumpouts, the 3-year-old Sioux Nation (USA) filly Sioux Spirit was favoured to make a winning debut in the Dean Holland Memorial Maiden Plate at Geelong on Wednesday and did not disappoint anyone.
Ridden by Craig Williams for Jerome Hunter, Sioux Spirit dwelt at the start but hurried through to settle outside the leader, The Carillo. That pair settled down to fight out the race with Sioux Spirit gradually drawing a length and a quarter clear of The Carillo, handing that son of Lord Of The Sky his fourth consecutive second.
The More Than Ready (USA) gelding, Switchblade, was three and a half lengths back in third.
Jerome Hunter has not ruled out a start at the carnivals in Adelaide or Brisbane for the daughter of Sioux Nation (USA).
“It was great she had a horse to take her around the turn, so she wasn’t lost,” Hunter said.
“She has a bright future. We will see how she pulls up, but she is rising four and had one start, so it’s not like she’s been around the world.
“It rains at the Adelaide Carnival and Queensland Carnival, so we’ll wait and see. Craig wanted to find a race up north, but we will take it as it comes.”
Purchased by Graeme Gathercole’s Rich River Pty Ltd for $52,500 from the Balius Farm draft at the 2022 Premier Yearling Sale, Showcase Session, Sioux Spirit is the fifth winner from seven to race for the very talented Invincible Spirit (IRE) mare, Big Spirit.
The winner of nine races, including four at Moonee Valley and Flemington and Caulfield, Big Spirit is a half-sister to the Group III SAJC Dermody Stakes winner Dantana out of the stakes-placed Big Sky Montana.
Big Spirit has a 2-year-old Toronado (IRE) colt named Noble Tarzan.
Ciaron Maher Bloodstock bought a Toronado (IRE) filly from Big Spirit for $130,000, which Meredith Park consigned to the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
After slipping in 2022, Big Spirit was covered by Toronado (IRE) last spring.
