Fourteen 2-year-old fillies, evenly divided between the raced and unraced brigade, are set to contest Saturday's Sportsbet Jockey Watch Hcp (1100m) for fillies at Caulfield.
The most expensive yearlings in the field are the debutants, the $1,100,000 Easter purchase On Display, and the $800,000 Magic Millions buy Just Like Gaby.
The Pierata filly Just Like Gaby is the first foal of the Group 1 MVRC Manikato Stakes and Group 1 MVRC William Reid Stakes winner Loving Gaby (I Am Invincible).
Also on debut are the $250,000 Magic Millions buy Sirena (Pierata), the first foal of 5-time Group-placed Fidelia; the highly regarded Grunt filly Manolo Bling, at $350,000 the second most expensive yearling by her sire; the $75,000 Xtravagant filly Berezka who is reportedly working well for Ciaron Maher; the $85,000 So You Think filly Bossy Benita; and the $220,000 Toronado filly Star Angel.
Just Like Gaby has trialled well in Sydney for Ciaron Maher, making significant progress from her first trial to win her second at Warwick Farm on July 1.
The Fastnet Rock filly On Display also made commendable progress in three jumpouts. She will strive to make it a good couple of days for part-owner Sheamus Mills, trainers Mick Price, and Michael Kent Jnr after the million-dollar Lonhro filly Sledding broke her maiden impressively at Bendigo on Thursday.
Bred by the Huddy family's Peachester Lodge, On Display was consigned by Lime Country Thoroughbreds to the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, where Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (FBAA) had the final say at $1,100,000.
The daughter of Fastnet Rock is a half-sister to the Group 1 New Zealand One Thousand Guineas heroine Media Sensation (I Am Invincible) and a three-quarter sister to the talented Hinchinbrook filly Amelia's Contraire.
On Display's dam, Different To beat one runner home in a Sunshine Coast maiden and was whisked off to stud. The daughter of High Chaparral (IRE) is a half-sister to Dorabella (Postponed), who also won the New Zealand One Thousand Guineas and the Group 1 Captain Cook Stakes.
Different To's half-brother Crusoe (Volksraad) was a multiple stakes-winner in New Zealand and Singapore and finished third to Darci Brahma in the New Zealand Two Thousand Guineas.
Dorabella is the dam of the So You Think filly Coral Coast, which was third behind Ace High in the Group III Gloaming Stakes and fourth in the Group 1 Queensland Oaks, won by Youngstar.
Lime Country Thoroughbreds consigned a brother to Media Sensation to the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, where he was snapped up by Michael Freedman Racing / Michael Wallace Bloodstock for $650,000.
Different To foaled a Too Darn Hot (GB) colt on November 14 and was covered by Extreme Choice on Boxing Day.
After covering 16 mares last year, Fastnet Rock received an honourable pension in January after 19 seasons of faithful service to Coolmore. His daughters are gold, and he is on track to take the honour of Champion Australia Broodmare Sire for 2023-24.
