Three promising 3-year-old debutants fought out the finish of the Tile Importer Maiden Plate (1300m) at Sandown-Hillside, with the honours going to the Written Tycoon filly Andrina.
Ridden by Jamie Kah for Clinton McDonald, Andrina took the length of the straight to run down Lindsay Park’s highly regarded Ribchester (IRE) gelding Romani Ite Domum, with the Too Darn Hot (GB) gelding Saint Aubins a length and a half back in third.
“She has been a real work in progress, and Jamie has done a lot of work on her at home,” McDonald said.
“She is a big 16.3 (hands) filly still learning what it is all about. She has been trialling well, and we are pleased with her progress. A big thank you to (part owners) Peter and Glen Carrick for being patient, as she needs time and will grow into a beautiful autumn 4-year-old.
“She has a bright future, and we look forward to seeing how far she can go.”
Andrina is a $180,000 purchase for Clinton McDonald Racing from the Noorilim Park draft at the 2023 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale and races for a syndicate including Noorilim Park and Yu Long Investments.
The daughter of Written Tycoon is the first foal of the Fastnet Rock mare Rock The Sea, a three-quarter to Ennis Hill (dam of Learning To Fly), Acrobat and Lake Geneva, and a half-sister to the Group III ARC Mr Tiz Trophy winner No More Tears the dam of the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes winner Ozzmosis.
A $680,000 Inglis Easter yearling buy for Noorilim Park Thoroughbreds / Ciaron Maher Bloodstock, Rock The Sea has a yearling filly by Palace Pier (GB) and was covered by Harry Angel (IRE) last spring.
