From last to first and wins by six, not hard to have this filly as a 'One to Watch'.
An exciting filly by former Mapperley Stud stallion Contributer was unearthed at Flemington on Saturday with Concord Connie’s stunning last-to-first demolition in the A$150,000 The Les Carlyon (1400m).
The Benchmark 70 handicap was the third start for the Charlotte Littlefield-trained three-year-old, who ran second on debut at Ballarat in November and then resumed with a smart maiden victory at Pakenham on April 9. But what she did on Saturday was on a completely different level.
Sent out as a $3.60 second favourite, Concord Connie jumped only fairly from gate 11 in a 12-horse field and was taken back to second-last by jockey Jett Stanley.
Concord Connie had dropped out to the tail of the field by the home turn, but then Stanley brought her to the outside and let her rip. She showed a blistering turn of foot and powered past her 11 rivals. She hit the front with 250m to go and blasted clear, opening up a six-length winning margin over the New Zealand-bred runner-up Two To Tango.
Concord Connie’s three-start career has now produced two wins, a second and A$162,350 in stakes.
“I’m really glad we got the name Concord in front of Connie, because that was probably a little bit more impressive than I thought,” Littlefield said.
“I just love this horse, she’s such a character, and for her to go and do that – I think the sky’s the limit. I’m so excited to have a horse like her in the stable.”
Bred by her part-owners Yabby Dam Farms, Concord Connie is by Contributer out of the Written Tycoon mare Tysonic. The filly was offered by Yabby Dam Farms at the 2024 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale but did not meet her A$60,000 reserve.
She is the first foal of Tysonic, a metro winning three-quarter sister by Written Tycoon to Group II winning $2.7million earner Abounding.
“I went and looked at her probably three or four times,” Littlefield recalled. “I absolutely loved her, but she was very small and she had tiny feet. We’re so critical of horses at the sales, aren’t we? I just thought A$60,000 was just a little bit too much to spend on something I wasn’t sure about.
“Corey from Griffiths Racing put me in touch with Pat (Driscoll, from Yabby Dam Farms) and suggested the horse come to us. It’s a great story, and there’s plenty more to come.”
Concord Connie is a bright prospect for the High Chaparral stallion Contributer, who stood at Mapperley from 2016 until his death in 2024. Contributer is the sire of 140 winners from 236 runners, with 12 stakes winners headed by Campionessa and Lion’s Roar at Group One level.
Contributer has fashioned a strong record with his progeny in Australia, with 70 winners from 113 runners including stakes winners Lion’s Roar, Campionessa, Snow Patrol and Tenzing. – NZ Racing Desk.
