When Stay Inside filly Blue Door produced an explosive barrier trial win at Rosehill last month many punters put her straight into their Black Book and the well named filly duly rewarded them when winning the Group III ATC Kindergarten Stakes (1100m) at Randwick in Saturday.
Taking on a field of promising juvenile colts and fillies on debut, the Bjorn Baker trained filly did everything right, jumping swiftly and crossing to settle just behind and outside the leader.
She gave Rachel King an easy steer, travelling sweetly and hitting the front at the 300m mark before fighting off the challenge of $2.8million Snitzel colt The Next Episode, who was strong to the line after being slowly away.
Blue Door was tenacious to the post and scored by a long head over the colt with both horses showing the sort of potential that may take them far next spring.
A $400,000 Inglis Easter purchase from the Yarraman Park draft for Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott / Kestrel Thoroughbreds, Blue Door runs for John Singleton, who this year elected to send the filly to Bjorn Baker to train.
Baker was only too happy to take on Blue Door and has wasted no time getting a result.
“She’s very good, had to sit outside the lead and do plenty of work. She’s shown us exceptional ability since we’ve had her. She was a great trial winner and great to win for Singo and the team,” said Bjorn Baker.
“We haven’t had her too long, we were the lucky benefactors of a very nice filly probably four to five weeks ago.
“It’s worked out brilliantly and very grateful for the opportunity.
“She definitely got a little tired late today, but going forward she’s exceptionally fast and has a really big future.”
Rachel King rode Blue Door in her trial win and was thrilled to see her come out and win on race day.
“I was a little wary, with only one trial, I know she was very impressive in her trial, but we would always like them to have two. We didn’t go overly quick early in that trial and she really just dashed home,” King said.
“Her gallop on Tuesday was super so I knew she’d taken plenty of benefit from that trial.
“She’s got a great attitude, she’s a real racehorse and just wants to win.”
Bred by Armitage Australia and foaled and raised at Yarraman Park, Blue Door is well named given she is from blueblood Pierro mare Notting Hill and anyone that has seen that movie starring Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant will know the significance of ‘blue door’ in that context.
Blue Door is the first stakes-winner among three winners from four foals to race from Notting Hill, who went to the USA at the start of her stud career before returning to Australia in 2020.
From the first crop of foals by Golden Slipper winner Pierro, Notting Hill made $1.4million as a yearling at Magic Millions and won two minor races. She came with a massive pedigree being from G2 placed Monsoon Wedding, a full sister to champion sire Redoute’s Choice, Group I winner Platinum Scissors and half-sister to Group I winning sire Manhattan Rain.
Notting Hill has a weanling colt by I Am Invincible and was covered last spring by Too Darn Hot (GB).
Blue Door is the third stakes-winner for Newgate Farm’s Golden Slipper winning sire Stay Inside.
.jpg)
