News

Fairway Thoroughbreds Celebrate Florentina Guineas Win

7th May 2012

Breednet - Tara Madgwick - Saturday, 5 May 2012

Fairway Thoroughbreds were in the news last weekend for breeding and selling Group I SAJC Australasian Oaks winner Invest and were back in the winner's circle at the Gold Coast on Saturday with royally bred filly Florentina, who they elected to retain.

Resuming from a long spell after finishing last in the Group I ATC Flight Stakes back in the spring, the David Payne trained daughter of Redoute's Choice returned to competition in top form to win the Group III Gold Coast Guineas over 1200 metres by a length.

Tuned up with a couple of recent barrier trial wins, Florentina was able to capitalise on the potential she has always shown having placed in three of the four legs of the Princess Series behind established star Streama during the spring.

Florentina is the 89th stakes-winner for Redoute's Choice and has the overall record of two wins and four placings from eight starts with prizemoney of $239,200.

Foaled and raised at Coolmore for her breeders John and Deb Camilleri (Fairway Thoroughbreds), Florentina is a half-sister to Group I winner Gathering and is the second stakes-winner for Peintre Celebre (USA) mare Celebria, whose grand-dam is celebrated producer Dancing Show (USA).

It's the family of Group I winners Umatilla, Hurricane Sky, Platinum Scissors, Al Maher, Manhattan Rain and of course Redoute's Choice, who is the sire of Florentina.

Florentina is the third stakes-winner to carry a double cross of Dancing Show joining Shared Reflections and Tranquility.

Celebria has a yearling sister to Florentina which masde $450,000 at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale when secured by Segenhoe Thoroughbreds, a weanling colt by Fastnet Rock and is due to foal to the same sire again this spring.