The Group II ATC Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) was run and won last Saturday at Randwick with the Tony Gollan trained filly Pembrey a dominant winner, but has she got the pedigree to get out to the 1600m of the $750,000 Group I ATC Flight Stakes on October 3?
The Darley Princess Series in Sydney is always the target of the best three year-old filles, but for many contenders the gradual increase in distance - with the G2 Furious Stakes (1200m) next followed by the G2 Tea Rose Stakes (1400m) and finally the G1 Flight Stakes (1600m) – is beyond them.
In his post-race comments, Tony Gollan indicated he was keen to get Pembrey to the 1400m and possibly the mile as well, so we’re looking into the pedigree to see if that looks doable on the genetic front.
Pembrey is the standout performer to date for her sire Prague, a blueblood son of Redoute’s Choice that competed as a sprinter. He is however a three-quarter brother to dual Group I winner Stratum Star, whose G1 wins came in the MRC Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) and WATC Kingston Town Classic (1800m).
Prague traces in tail female line back to Emancipation, one of the all time great champion mares in Sydney and one of her descendants is Apocalyptic, who won the G1 Flight Stakes last year.
Pembrey is the best of nine winners from her dam Se Sauveur, a quality mare by Bel Esprit, whose best win came in the Group II VRC Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m) and her half-brother Escado won the Group I SAJC SA Derby (2500m).
The second and third dams of Pembrey are by two exceptional champion racehorses in Giant’s Causeway and Secretariat, so what all of this tells us is that Pembrey has a pedigree that offers a lot more than that of a speedy squib 2YO.
Time will tell how far she can go, but pedigree won’t be what stops her.
