News

Easter Session II Girls Shine

26th Mar 2011

Response atoned for a luckless first up defeat when taking the Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes, while in Sydney Galizani proved herself a stayer of the future in a great day for Easter Session II graduates.

RESPONSE ($50,000 2008 Easter II, 4m Charge Forward-Live It Up) was rated by many as unlucky not to win the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate first up this campaign before running a solid fourth in Black Caviar’s Newmarket second up.

But everything fell into place for the Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra trained mare today, as she secured an inside run to hold off a determined challenge from the consistent Beaded. It was her second win at the highest level, following last September’s Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes.

Response was offered for sale by Alanbridge Stud and was picked out of the sale by Inglis Bloodstock Consultant Ian MacPherson on behalf of owner Barry Griffiths.

She now boasts earnings topping $765,000.

The same training and ownership team earlier landed a Listed success with BOOKLET ($82,500 2009 Premier, 3f Tale Of The Cat-Carabine) taking the Listed Adelaide Guineas.

In Sydney, GALIZANI ($140,000 2008 Easter II, 4m Galileo-Zahani) scored a valuable Listed win when proving too strong in the Epona Stakes. The Patinack Farm owned mare has been a rapid improver this time in and the stable has more feature success in Sydney and later Brisbane lined up this preparation.

Notably, Galizani’s dam is a daughter of the legendary stallion Zabeel, who notched yet another Group 1 winner when Lights Of Heaven took out today’s Schweppes Oaks.

In addition to being a multiple champion stallion, Zabeel is becoming one of the all time great broodmare sires and next month’s Easter Sale includes no less than 29 lots from Zabeel mares.

These include a full-brother to golden girl Samantha Miss, in addition to progeny from Group 1 winners like Unearthly, Dizelle, Champagne and Vouvray.

ZINGALING (P$475,000 2008 Easter, 4m Redoute’s Choice-Done That) rounded out the Rosehill card with another Easter stakes success, winning the Group 3 Birthday Card Quality.

The Kris Lees trained mare was also a Listed winner last season and was having her first run since a stakes placing at Flemington last November.

The 2001 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale begins Tuesday week, April 5.

Sirecam videos are available online ahead of the arrival of yearlings to Newmarket early next week for the 2011 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale in Sydney from April 5-7. To view the Sirecam Easter Yearling videos CLICK HERE