Yarraman Park’s Hellbent has shot to fame with a couple of outstanding Group I winning mares in Magic Time and Benedetta and a filly by the son of I Am Invincible was an eye-catching winner at Newcastle on Thursday.
A slashing second on debut at Canterbury last month when she charged home from last, the Lee and Cherie Curtis trained Bauhinia looked to be a great chance in the 1250m maiden with her main opposition the blueblood Chris Waller trained I Am Invincible colt Maori Chief, who was making his debut.
Maori Chief was sent out favourite and turned in a good run for second, but he could not keep pace with Bauhinia who forged clear to win by a length and a half with both three year-olds looking capable of more.
A $300,000 Magic Millions purchase from Yarraman Park for Frank and Christine Cook’s Mystery Downs, runs for an all womens ownership group and carries the colours of Christine Cook.
Bauhinia was bred by Yarraman Park and is the first foal of stakes-winner Like a Butterfly, who comes from a high class Western Australian female family that has produced plenty of stakes-winners including Group I ATC Canterbury Stakes winner Mizzy.
Like a Butterfly has not had a foal since Bauhinia, but was covered last spring by Brave Smash (Jpn).
Bauhinia was one of two winners at Newcastle for Hellbent with Hell’s Itch scoring earlier in the day.
