Add one more to the rapidly growing list of Shamus Award's promising 3-year-olds, with the filly Fluent making a statement on debut in the Whitford Liquid Waste Maiden Plate (1000m) at Ballarat on Tuesday.
Ridden by Declan Bates for Andrew Noblet, Fluent enjoyed a perfect trip behind the well-backed leader Daella. Eased out on straightening, Fluent quickly dispatched Daella to cruise to a three-and-a-half length win over the Written Tycoon debutant with the Yes Yes Yes first-starter Affirmative Lad one and a quarter lengths back in third.
Andrew Noblet said the strapping daughter of Shamus Award will be given a chance to measure up in the filly's races in the spring.
"She was immature last time, so she was given a break. It was great to see her let down and win like that," Noblet said.
"She's a nice filly, albeit on the synthetic, but this looked a good race and will definitely get further.
"We might give her a couple of weeks to get over it and plan a path to the 3-year-old filly races in the spring. We will set our goals high and see how she comes through it."
Bred by G & C Pastoral, Fluent was a $260,000 purchase for Badgers Bloodstock from the Golden Grove draft at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
She is the second winner from as many to race for the unraced Bel Esprit mare Guardian's Path, a half-sister to the Flemington winner Lazumba (Sebring), who chased Jameka home in the Group II VRC Sires' Produce Stakes.
Lazumba is the dam of Latino Blend (Hinchinbrook), who was second to Swift Witness in the Group II Silver Shadow Stakes.
A granddaughter of the Group II winner and multiple Group 1-placed Excited Angel, Guardian's Path has a 2-year-old brother to Fluent, who failed to reach his $100,000 at the 2024 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
The daughter of Bel Esprit has a yearling filly by Microphone and visited Best Of Bordeaux last spring.
Fluent is the 11th winner for Rosemont Stud's Shamus Award in the first three weeks of the season.
The dual Group 1 winning son of Snitzel stands for $38,500 this season.
