While Joe Pride prepares his star Al Maher gelding Private Eye for Saturday’s $1,000,000 The Newcastle Herald Hunter, his $5,000 Al Maher filly Brigidine Gal showed she has a bright future when overpowering Jolly Good Fellow and the $1,000,000 yearling Leconfield in the $100,000 Ranvet Super Maiden (1400m) at Rosehill on Wednesday.
After an indifferent start, Brigidine Gal was pushed by Regan Bayliss to find a spot just behind the leaders before drifting back to have just one runner behind her on the turn.
Under hard riding for much of the trip, the lightly raced 3-year-old filly lifted in the straight to defeat the Zousain gelding Jolly Good Fellow by a length and a quarter with the Snitzel colt Leconfield in third.
Brigidine Gal finished third at her first two starts at Warick Farm and Randwick-Kensington and Pride believes she is far from the finished article.
“She is a lovely filly who has always shown us plenty at home, hence the reason I have kept her in town, Pride said.
“One of the owners, Joe Francis, purchased her so I can’t put my hand up and take credit for buying one that cheap.
“We got our reward today and we will put her straight in the paddock.
“I came here with the expectations she would win. We will eye off some races in the autumn. I think she will be up to that mark when we get her back.
“She will only improve. She is a big girl who has not filled out the frame yet but has a lot of talent.
“She is not typical of the Al Mahers except about the head, but she is a lovely filly, and I’m really excited about getting her back for the autumn.”
Bred by Chris Heywood, Brigidine Gal was offered as a yearling by Kooringal Stud on Inglis Digital with Francis Racing having the final say at $5,000.
She is the fourth winner from five to race for the unraced Beautiful Crown (USA) mare Randwick Bound, which Heywood purchased for a mere $700 on Magic Millions Online.
Randwick Bound is a half-sister to the Group 1 SAF Kenilworth Cape Fillies Guineas winner Rumya (Red Ransom) and the Group II VRC Edward Manifold Stakes and Group II Kewney Stakes winner Badawiya from the family of Emancipation.
