Highlighted as a Brednet One To Watch when breaking her maiden in February, the David Vandyke trained Philia (All Too Hard) has added a further two wins including a facile two length victory in the Listed Princess Stakes (1600m) at Eagle Farm.
Second in the market behind the Group 1 placed Harlem Queen (Brutal), Vandyke’s three-year-old All Too Hard filly sat in second position in the run behind the Waterhouse/Bott trained Heat Missile (Too Darn Hot), pulling off the leader’s heels as they rounded the home turn.
Racing quite a few horses off the rail, Philia appeared to appreciate the slow track conditions and as jockey Kerrin McEvoy asked her for an effort, she put a solid gap on the rest of the field, maintaining that margin in the run to the line.
Working home from back in the field to finish in second, Godolphin’s Pinito (Trapeze Artist) looks as if a further step up in trip will suit with races like the Doomben Roses and Queensland Oaks obvious options.
A half-sister to multiple Group 1 winner Duais (Shamus Award) and a three-quarter sister to the Group 3 winner Baccarat Baby (Casino Prince), the valuable broodmare commodity Philia is third stakes winner from five runners out of the winning Johannesburg mare Meerlust, who is due to foal to Widden Stud's Trapeze Artist in the upcoming breeding season.
Bred and raced in partnership by Irwin Family Racing Trust and Harris Family Racing, Philia is one of 30 stakes winners for Vinery Stud’s All Too Hard who will stand this upcoming season at a fee of $27,500 (inc. GST) and is currently ninth on the Australian Leading Sires table headline by this season’s Group 1 Doncaster Mile heroine Stefi Magnetica.
