Natural Fling Wins $1m G3 Thoroughbred Club Stakes

Tara Madgwick - Saturday Nov 14

Home Affairs landed a Group race double at Sandown on Saturday with a couple of exceptional fillies in Consulate, who won the Group II MRC Sandown Guineas (1600m) and then Natural Fling finished her spring campaign in the manner that she started it with a dazzling victory in the $1million Group III MRC Thoroughbred Club Stakes (1200m)

Natural Fling was a class above at Sandown - image Grant Courtney

The Tony and Calvin McEvoy trained Natural Fling resumed from a spell to win the Group III MRC Quezette Stakes in early September before taking on the A graders in the Group I MVRC Moir Stakes (third), Group II VRC Danehill Stakes (second to The Next Episode) and then the Group I VRC Coolmore Stud Stakes (ninth to The Next Episode) two weeks ago.

Given the increase in prizemoney for the Thoroughbred Club Stakes this year and the set weights and penalties conditions of the race, it was not a hard decision for connections of Natural Fling to go back to the well one more time this spring and they were rewarded.

Ridden by Damian Lane, Natural Fling started favourite and executed perfectly. She never looked in danger of defeat as she sped clear to win by two and a half lengths over a couple of unheralded Farnan fillies Cavill Avenue and Nishioka.

Calvin McEvoy revealed he had a few concerns coming to this race, but Natural Fling had all the right moves.

"The query was 1200 (metres) whether she was at the end of her campaign," he said.

"Thanks to Tony (his Dad). He said she's the best filly and she's in well in this race.  It is the right race for her and a fantastic result for a great group of owners.

"He felt that she wasn't at the end and I thought that she presented as good as she has all campaign. I've got to admit that I was umming and ahhing whether we were doing the right thing running her again."

Happy days for the Natural Fling connections - image Grant Courtney

Natural Fling was a $550,000 Magic Millions purchase from the Yarraman Park draft for McEvoy Mitchell Racing/Belmont Bloodstock Agency and has the overall record of three wins and three placings from seven starts from three starts with over $1.1m in prizemoney.

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G1 races will be on the radar in 2027 for this super talented filly.

"There was a lot of thought and talk about The Sunlight race on the Gold Coast - a good money race, but we do feel that she is a genuine G1 filly and for that reason we'll put her away now and target an Oakleigh Plate (G1) and those sort of races," he added.

"She proved in the Moir (G1)that she is a weight-for-age filly and I have no doubt she'll continue to get to that level."

Natural Fling was a $550,000 Magic Millions yearling purchase.

Natural Fling was bred by Australian Bloodstock, foaled and raised at Yarraman Park and is a half-sister to Group III placed Wootton Lass.

She is the second winner from The Natural, a winning half-sister by Fastnet Rock to dual Group I winner Fiveandahalfstar and to the dam of Group I winner El Castello.

The Natural has a 2YO colt by Brave Smash (Jpn) called The Whiz that was sold in the Yarraman Park draft at Inglis Classic for $300,000 to Graham Begg Racing / Rohan Hughes Bloodstock.

The Natural has no yearling for the sales next year, but has foaled this spring producing a filly by  Too Darn Hot (GB).

She has also been covered again by Home Affairs so will be expecting a full sibling to Natural Fling next spring.

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