The debutant Swifties jumped a length in front when the barriers opened and that was as close as the opposition came to the daughter Capitalist in Sunday’s Tim Miller Electrical Maiden Plate (1000m) at Bendigo.
Ridden by Damian Lane for Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, Swifries had a thoroughly enjoyable day out, defying a worrying betting drift to open her winning account by five and a half lengths.
Swifties defeated the Shamus Award filly Shamateur with Godolphin’s well-backed Street Boss (USA) filly Souk in third.
Bred and raced by Fern Vale Farm’s Ash Hardwick, Swifties was passed in short of her $80,000 reserve when consigned by Widden Stud to the 2023 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
“I wanted to be positive and when she jumped so well, that was the sensible option,” Lane said.
“She’s a nice filly and well done to Ash Hardwick, whom I have ridden plenty of winners for when associated with David Moodie’s Heskett Bloodstock.
“I think Ash might be a closet Swiftie, but I wouldn’t put it past Pricey either.
“I didn’t have time to celebrate Via Sistina’s win yesterday (in the Gr1 Turnbull Stakes, because this filly had 55kgs, so I went home and sipped some soda water.”
Swifties is the fourth winner for the Listed MRC Redoute’s Choice Stakes winner The Huntress (Husson), whose career was restricted to seven starts.
Fern Vale Farm will also race the 2-year-old Snitzel x The Huntress colt, who was passed in short of his $350,000 reserve when offered by Amarina Farm to the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
He has been named The Cool Hunter and is in the Danny O’Brien stable.
The Huntress died in July. Her final foal is a yearling colt by Dirty Work.
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