Talented colt Just Too Fly became the 43rd stakes winner worldwide for his incredible sire Justify (USA) when he notched up a hard fought win in the 1400m G3 WA Sires Produce Stakes (1400m).
Luke Fernie's striking chestnut claimed a well deserved first career victory and first Group win at only his fourth start, after a thrilling duel with glamour filly Snitzalatte (Snitzel) in the Ascot straight.
In the absence of Karrakatta Plate heroine Talkanco (I'm All The Talk) who had gone to the paddock for a well earned spell, Adam Durrant's Snitzalatte started a firm favourite in the Sires after her brave Karrakatta third, while runner up Fila Mia also had a horde of admirers.
Snitzalatte's grand dam Paradise Park won this race. She had a great draw and Willy Pike in red hot form on board chasing his fourth win on the card. She was going to be tough to beat.
But it was Meryl Hayley's gelding Deltason (I'm All The Talk) that became the focus of a sustained betting plunge, coming into the Sires off a three and a half length demolition job over his rivals in a last start Ascot win over the 1400m.
Now Deltason was coming back to stakes company - but he had put in an eye-catching run in the Supremacy Stakes on debut behind Luana Miss, Talkanco and Yes Queen.
He was the fresher horse on the scene, reasoned the punters, and he had the right sire - so they sent him out equal second favourite with Just Too Fly at 3-1.
The only other two year old under double figures was the Pearce Stables genuine filly Perfectly Proper (Pierata) who had been racing without luck all season and been greatly overshadowed by her stablemate Talkanco. Finally she had her chance to shine from a good barrier at a more suitable trip.
Also coming out of the Karrakatta Plate were God's Rapture (Playing God), and Loves Talking (I'm All The Talk)
The fillies had both performed creditably with some excuses there, and both would certainly seem to be advantaged by the step up in trip but punters were decidedly lukewarm on their chances.
The last of the Karrakatta contenders to line up here was Neville Parnham's promising gelding Statewide (Tassort) who had placed behind Snitzalatte on debut. His effort in the Karrakatta had been far better than it first appeared. After blowing the start from a wide gate the youngster was last of 16 and struggling to stay in touch with the manic pace being set by Castle Road - but got going in the straight to wind up in ninth place.
The 1400m looked ideal for the son of a Redoute's Choice mare from a family that is rarely without a good horse making news somewhere - its latest star being champion filly Lady Shenandoah. Steve Parnham had the ride.
At long odds were Buon Amici (Long Leaf ), the Simon Miller gelding left in the wake of a rampaging Deltason last start after leading them into the straight - and the Safeguard filly Fila Mia, rising sharply in trip at her third start for trainer Jayce Buckley.
Fila Mia was a filly with an intriguing pedigree as she is out of the excellent little sprinting mare Mia Dolce by Patronize who was a super tough two year old - and Patronize is a three quarter brother to Safeguard's sire Exceed And Excel.
It was an unseasonably hot Autumn afternoon in Perth and as the Sires field milled around behind the gates Deltason became noticeably lathered.
The starter didn't keep them standing long, and they jumped in a perfect line with Willy Pike on the favourite quickly taking command of proceedings.
But Brad Parnham and Just Too Fly were right there with them.
The swift and professional little Snitzel filly set a good even pace. Perfectly Proper was getting a great run in behind the leading pair, but Loves Talking got herself fired up and raced fiercely outside her, while for Deltason his uncomfortable afternoon wasn't getting any better - he was posted three wide and stayed there for the duration.
As they neared the home turn Pike asked Snitzalatte to quicken and she responded, but Just Too Fly went at the same time. The big colt had been looming ominously in her field of vision the whole way and now he swept up with his powerful stride beside her to make a fight of it.
The Ascot crowd was treated to one of the best Sires finishes in years as the two went head for head the length of the straight - Snitzalatte tried her heart out and even momentarily regained the lead after being headed - but the son of Justify was too strong.
Just Too Fly drew clear by three quarters of a length to win from little Fila Mia who almost daintily picked her way through a field of tiring horses to take second. Statewide charged home out wide for third and Snitzalatte hung on gamely for fourth but the winner was just too classy and too good.
Luke Fernie paid $210,000 to purchase his stylish colt at the 2024 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale from vendor Riversdale Stud.
That seems a more than reasonable outlay given that Just Too Fly has a stallion's pedigree - and now looks likely to undertake a stud career at some future point in time.
Bred by Waratah Thoroughbreds, Just Too Fly's winning dam Ephemera by the great More Than Ready was bred by Widden Stud and placed at Listed level in the Quezette Stakes.
Sadly Ephemera died in 2023 having borne only five living foals, all named - Just Too Fly was her last foal and her second stakes-winner joining Pierro Listed winner Commander..
Ephemera was a half sister to the G2 VRC Sires Produce winner Running Tall by Stratum, exported to Singapore; to Intrusion by Redoute's Choice a stakes winner in Macau; and to the filly Sensibility also by Redoute's Choice who placed in a G1 Flight Stakes.
These were just the best from her prolific dam Fleeting Touch by noted broodmare sire Touch Gold, whose eight to race were all winners.
Just Too Fly is bred 4f x 5m to Mr Prospector and 5m x 4m to Deputy Minister a pattern carried by many stakes winners in the USA.
His grand dam Fleet Lady has a pedigree packed with the genetic power of legendary broodmare sires Roberto, Prince John and Amerigo x 2.
And notably this damline is also that of Southern Halo, no doubt one factor in Widden's choice of stallion More Than Ready for Just Too Fly's dam Ephemera.
Luke Fernie was pleased to see his exciting colt score that crucial juvenile stakes win.
“He's always been a quality animal, it's probably taken him a bit longer to work it out than I thought,” he said.
“He's a good colt to deal with, he was tough and courageous today. His ownership group, there are three groups of owners and they're all my best supporters so I'm really happy for them.”
His Sires Produce victory takes Just Too Fly's record to a win and three placings from four starts and his career earnings to $246,840.
Unbeaten Triple Crown winner Justify is breaking all kinds of records at stud, as he did on the track. He remains in Kentucky in 2025 and will serve mares to Southern Hemisphere time that will include Australian Group I winner Amelia’s Jewel, who was purchased by Tom Magnier at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale this week for $3.8million.
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