Quality Justify (USA) filly Lilac has been knocking on the door of a stakes win during the autumn and got the job done at Randwick on Saturday capturing the $250,000 Group III ATC James HB Carr Stakes (1400m).
Trained by Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald, Lilac was a stakes-winner in Melbourne last spring and has been consistent this preparation in some tough races, notably when fourth in the Group I ATC Surround Stakes to Lady Shenandoah.
Given a perfect ride from gate one by James McDonald, Lilac took full advantage of conditions to suit and skipped clear down the running before holding off a late challenge from runner-up More Territories to win by a long neck.
“She's always been a bit of a bridesmaid, a lot of seconds, thirds and fourths, and she was already a listed winner, but it's always nice to get that Group win and particularly with such a great group of owners,” said Annabel Neasham.
“It'd be interesting to see what James (McDonald) says, but I've always thought 1400 is maybe her max, but the way she relaxed today, she was pretty comfortable in the end, but it was a great ride as well.”
Lilac is likely to head to the paddock for a break following a very productive three year-old season with her overall record now standing at three wins and three placings from nine starts with earnings topping $370,000.
“That was always the plan. She's had a relatively busy prep and she's always been a filly that hasn't held a whole lot of condition, but that being said, she actually paraded and looked the best she has all prep today. We'll chat to the owners, but they will have a lot of fun with her as a four-year-old,” Annabel Neasham added.
A $300,000 Karaka Book 1 purchase for Champion Thoroughbreds / Annabel Neasham Racing from the Curraghmore draft, Lilac runs for a big ownership group in the Champion Thoroughbreds colours and her owners also include Coolmore, who retain an interest in the filly, as she was bred and raised in Australia at Coolmore.
She is the best of two winners from Group II placed Fastnet Rock mare Paulownia, a full sister to Group I winning sire Foxwedge and stakes-winner She’s a Fox with the family also producing Group II winner Bank Maur and stakes-winners Namesake and Untamed.
Paulownia has a yearling colt by Home Affairs that was sold at Inglis Easter in the Coolmore draft to Archibald & Neasham Racing / William Johnson Bloodstock (FBAA) for $180,000.
Paulownia is one of several Coolmore owned mares that went to Kentucky last year to be covered by Justify to Southern Hemisphere time and is now back in Australia safely in foal and carrying a full sibling to Lilac.
While Lilac’s sire Justify is not returning to Australia, his champion son City of Troy (USA) will be one of the most anticipated arrivals in the Hunter Valley this spring.
The Champion European 2YO Colt and 3YO Colt, City of Troy was a superstar for the Coolmore partners and this Epsom Derby winning four time Group I winner stands at a fee of $49,500.
