There were a lot of people made happy by the result of the Listed SAJC Morphettville Guineas (1600m) on Monday when the unbeaten run of race favourite Sabaj was brought to an end by progressive Deep Field filly Gala Queen, a half-sister to multiple Group I placed Group III winning mare Semana.
Trained by Phillip Stokes and ridden by Joe Bowditch, Gala Queen won successive races at Pakenham in January and February before finishing fifth in the Future Stars Series Final at the same track on February 27.
Stepped up to 1600m for the first time in Adelaide, she let down with a good finish to overhaul the favourite and win by a length taking her overall record to three wins from six starts with prizemoney topping $140,000.
“She’s taken quite a bit of time,” said Phillip Stokes.
“She probably should have won last start. She was very unlucky.
“Do we push on for an Oaks? – not sure. We’ll let her do the talking.”
Foaled and raised at Newgate Farm, Gala Queen was purchased from the Newgate draft at Magic Millions for $180,000 by Phillips Stokes Racing/Rick Connolly Bloodstock.
The 39th stakes-winner now pensioned champion sire Deep Field, she is a half-sister to $1.6million earning stakes-winner Semana and is the second stakes-winner among three winners from metro winning Nicconi mare Festivity, a half-sister to stakes-winner Merriest.
Newgate Farm sold Festivity at the 2023 Inglis Broodmare Sale for $85,000 to Lime Country Thoroughbreds in foal to Farnan and she duly produced a colt for them that made $750,000 when offered in their draft at Magic Millions this year and bought by James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership/Tony Fung Colts.
She was covered last spring by I Am Invincible after missing to Wootton Bassett (GB).
Semana is set to be a headline mare for the Inglis Chairman’s Sale next month and the addition of more Black Type to her page from Gala Queen will only further enhance her appeal.
