There was not a lot of love for Just Like Gaby in the betting ring when she made her debut down the 1000m Flemington straight on July 20. Still, there was enough to like about her fighting fourth behind the undefeated First Settler to suggest she is a leading chance in Saturday’s Dominant Hcp at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
The Ciaron Maher-trained daughter of Pierata has drawn the outside barrier in the 1000m scamper. Hopefully, she will take a similar liking to the track as her dam, Loving Gaby.
In three undefeated starts at Moonee Valley, Loving Gaby scaled the heights in the Manikato Stakes and William Reid Stakes and defeated Exilerates in the Group III Scarborough Stakes.
Bred by Kia Ora Stud and Alan Bell, Loving Gaby came from the sixth crop of I Am Invincible and was a start from day one, defeating her stablemate Bella Rosa in the Group III Chairman’s Stakes at Caulfield.
Bella Rosa was fresh off defeating Lankan Star in the Group III Ottawa Stakes, and Lankan Star defeated all bar Lyre in the Blue Diamond with Loving Gaby in sixth after being pinballed down the length of the straight.
Sent to Sydney for the 2yo Triple Crown, Loving Gaby clocked in Golden Slipper on a heavy track, second to Microphone in the Sires’ Produce (1400m), and second to Castelvecchio in the Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Randwick, the last time she was asked to travel further than 1200m.
In addition to victories in the Manikato Stakes, William Reid Stakes and Scarborough Stakes, the daughter of I Am Invincible finished second to Nature Strip in the VRC Classic, to Bivouac in the Newmarket Handicap, and was third to Gytrash and Redzel in the Lightning Stakes.
A $500,000 purchase for Phoenix Thoroughbreds from the Kia Ora Stud draft at the 2018 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Loving Gaby retired with a record of four wins, five seconds, and a third from 13 starts with earnings of $2,281,250.
Following her excellent juvenile season, it was little wonder there was great excitement when Lving Gaby’s dam Maastricht took centre stage at the 2019 Inglis Chairman’s Sale.
Carrying a sister to Loving Gabby, the daughter of Mastercraftsman (IRE) was hammered down to Coolmore/ James Bester Bloodstock for a sales-topping $2,250,000.
Maastricht was an acclomished racemare in her own right.
A $220,000 Karaka yearling, she was the most expensive yearling from the first crop of her 4-time Group 1 winning sire, a price no doubt helped through the deeds of her half-sister, the Group 1 SAJC Goodwood Handicap winner Velocitea.
Trained by Michael, John and Wayne Hawkes, Maastricht won her first two starts before finishing second to Fontein Ruby in the Group II Edward Manifold Stakes and to Set Square in the Listed Ethereal Stakes. She would later be placed in the Group II Alister Clark Stakes and Group III Adrian Knox Stakes.
Segenhoe Stud consigned Just Like Gaby to the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where Ciaron Maher Bloodstock/Kevin Kelly had the final say at $800,000.
That made her the most expensive yearling from the first crop of Pierro’s outstanding son Pierata, who now stands at Yulong after beginning his career at Aquis.
Kennewell Racing/Group 1 Bloodstock (FBAA) shelled out $400,000 for Loving Gaby’s Snitzel filly at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
After slipping in 2022, Loving Gaby made another visit to Snitzel last spring.
