The greater part of Saturday's Group II Sky Racing Moreton Cup (1200m) at Doomben was an easy watch for Segenhoe Stud whose colour-bearers Pretty In Pink and Winter Bride looked set to fight out the finish before the menacing presence Brave Song loomed large in the closing stages.
So fast was he finishing Brave Song looked to have arrived in time but the photo showed the 3yo Sebring filly Pretty In Pink had got the stride in to edge the admirably consistent Your Song gelding by a short-half-head with the Not A Single Doubt filly Winter Bride a long-neck back in third. (image Racing Queensland)
Winner of the Listed Woodlands Stakes at Scone 12 months ago, Pretty In Pink placed in the Group II Furious Stakes and Group II Tea Rose Stakes last spring.
The John O'Shea-trained filly came off a break of 32 weeks when fifth in the Listed Denise's Joy Stakes at Scone on May 11.
The win earned Pretty In Pink a ticket for the next weeks Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap and Segenhoe Stud spokesman Bill Mitchell is keen to go there.
"That was a brilliant win today and all things considered, I can't see why she couldn't come back next week and do it again," Mitchell said.
"She's still a bit fresh and was getting tired late, I actually thought she got beat, but she'll take a lot from this hit out.
"Three-year-old fillies and John O'Shea have a good record in the Stradbroke, she has nothing to lose next week.
"She's a very classy filly she raced against the best in Sydney in the Spring and this shows her form measures up to Group II class.
"John said along time ago these three-year-old fillies really like it in Brisbane and he's done it again."
Passed in short
of her $275,000 reserve at the 2017 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, Pretty in Pink (pictured as a yearling ) advanced her record to three wins and two thirds from 7 starts with earnings of
$291,455.
Pretty in Pink is out of the multiple Group II placed Nadeem mare Total Attraction who was bought by Segenhoe for $220,000 at the 2013 Inglis Australian Broodmare Sale.
Her dam Endless Charm (Lion Cavern) is a half-sister to Group II winner and multiple Group 1-placed Infinite Grace (Prince Of Birds) and to the dam of the Group II Manifold Stakes winner Fontein Ruby (Turffontein) from the family of dual Cox Plate winner Fields Of Omagh.
Total Attraction has an unraced Pierro filly named Pink Crystal, a yearling full-sister to Pretty in Pink and a weanling filly by Choisir who was withdrawn from the Magic Millions Weanling Sale.
Total Attraction was covered by Sebring again last season but unfortunately missed as the champion Widden stallion died in February.
