Million-dollar Deep Impact filly Enood chalked up her first win at start number seven in an 1100 metre maiden at Kilmore on Thursday.
Ridden by Regan Baylis for trainer’s Tony and Calvin McEvoy, Enood had little luck in the run being three deep the trip but she finished determinedly to defeat the Reward For Effort filly Bethpage by half a head with the Smart Missile filly Groovy Kinda Love one and a quarter lengths back in third.
Stable representative Michael Shepherdson said he is hoping the penny has finally dropped for the Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa colour-bearer who was making her first start since August last year.
“She’s finally broken her maiden which takes a bit of pressure off. She’s always shown good ability but lost her way last prep so Tony and Calvin decided to give her a good spell and let her mature,” Shepherdson said.
“She was never really on the track today so it was a good effort.
“Early days we thought she might get out to a bit of a trip but this time around we have kept the speed in her legs and it seems to have worked so far.”
Purchased out of the Arrowfield draft for $1 million at the 2018 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Enood is a half-sister to the Listed LevRC Ryder Stakes winner Manhattan Street out of the Redoute’s Choice mare Charming Estelle.
Purchased by Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock for $400,000 at the 2014 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale, Charming Estelle is a sister to Horse Of The Year, Lankan Rupee.
Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock also signed for Charming Estelle’s filly by Dundeel for $500,000 at the 2019 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. She has been named Lankan Gold and is in training with Anthony Freedman.
Charming Estelle has not had a live foal since and was covered by Dundeel again last year.
