Astute trainer Phillip Stokes unleashed a very smart juvenile at Morphettville on Boxing Day with fleet footed Zousain filly La Roux delighting punters and her big team of owners with a dominant two and half length victory bringing a timely pedigree update for her Magic Millions bound half-brother.
Sent out a short priced favourite for the 1000m scamper, La Roux made light work of the task when leading for home and skipping away from her rivals to win as she pleased.
Entered for the Group I MRC Blue Diamond Stakes in February, La Roux has made the perfect start to her career and connections are entitled to be looking towards bigger goals for the talented filly, who was purchased for just $60,000 from the Widden Stud draft at Inglis Premier by Phillip Stokes Racing / Rick Connolly Bloodstock.
“She carries the colours of Jackson Frantz, who is heavily invested in the stable and is only a young fellow, so we pick our horses together at the sales and try to buy them under $50,000, although she was $60,000, but they are really good value for money horses,” said Tommy Stokes, son of Phillip Stokes.
“We bought this filly knowing she was very small, but hoping to race her as a two year-old and we took the punt and it’s worked out today.
“We also took a punt on Zousain, the stallion, as we think he has plenty of potential and he’s by Zoustar, whose progeny are very out of reach to purchase these days, so we though he would be good value and have quite a few in the stable showing good promise.
“She’s been in the Melbourne stable all the way through and shown promise and this trip away will do her the world of good, so we’ll see how she pulls up, but obviously we can now tell the owners to dream high and go to a Blue Diamond Prelude.
“She would have to improve a stack off that, but why not, you’ve got to dream don’t you!”
Bred by Widden partnership, La Roux is the fourth winner from Thrill, a winning half-sister by Flying Spur to Group II winner Star of the Seas and stakes-winner Spieth, who were both placed in Group I company.
Thrill produced a filly by Jacquinot this year and is now back in foal to Zousain.
