News

Fabulous Day For Lees

11th Feb 2006

ABSOLUTELYFABULOUS (2005 Classic $45,000) danced home to grab an impressive victory in the $500,000 Inglis Classic at Rosehill Gardens yesterday with stablemate BONCOEUR (2005 Classic $30,000) close up in third.

The well-fancied Kris Lees trained filly lived up to the promise shown in her eye-catching prep-run at the same venue two weeks ago, with Graeme Rogerson’s LUVULEO (2005 Classic $100,000) just getting up forsecond from the long-time leader BONCOEUR in third.

“We went into the race very confident, though the draw did put us off a bit,” said an ecstatic Lees after the race. “She’s improved with every run and looked the winner a long way from home.”

The Newcastle based trainer collected first and third in the $500,000 race having bought just three yearlings at the 2005 Classic sale through respected bloodstock agent Kieran Moore.

“I think we’ll go back there and buy a few more on Sunday,” he said.

The winning filly carried the colours of Tim Worner and David Fitzgerald’s Indian Pacific Bloodstock Syndicate and Judy Wanless.

Inglis Director Of Sales Jonathan D’Arcy said “We’re delighted for Kris having the one-three and for the filly’s owners who have been great supporters of our sales over many years.”

The Langfuhr filly could now be aimed at the Golden Slipper and looks a likely prospect to follow in the illustrious footsteps of past Classic race winners and subsequent Group 1 winners CHOISIR, and LAURIE’S LOTTERY.

ABSOLUTELYFABULOUS is out of the Rory’s Jester mare Joker’s Girl - a three time Listed winning juvenile and daughter of the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate winner Scarlet Bisque.

Inglis will offer a very close relation to Absolutelyfabulous at the 2006 Premier Sale consigned by Collingrove Stud, Nagambie, as lot 334.

THE 2006 Classic Yearling Sale gets underway later this morning with the first of a catalogued 594 lots due through the ring at 10am.

Yesterday’s racing provided some timely pedigree updates to yearlings selling over the next two-days.

Among five Inglis graduates to win at Rosehill yesterday was TURN THE TIDE (2001 Winter T’Bred $1,800) who landed a 1200m Class 3 handicap for Paul Perry. His full-brother by Dracula is offered by Manx Park, agent as lot 457 tomorrow. Also on offer tomorrow is lot 474 from Carramar Park as agent, a half-sister to COUNTESS BATHORY (2002 Winter T’Bred $13,000) who landed the opener for trainer John Wallace.

Pedigree Updates for today's session

A full list of pedigree updates is available from reception. The following is a short selection of the most significant.

13: Under 2nd Dam; ABSOLUTELYFABULOUS. (f Langfuhr-Joker’s Girl) winner of the $500,000 Inglis Classic, STC Escape to the Races H. (1100m.) at 2. 3d AJC G T Rowe H., STC Mortgage Professionals H.

60: SOLAR MIGHTY. (c Fasliyev-Madame Plume) 1 win at 900m. at 2. 3d VRC Escape to Flemington P., The Domain P.

92: KARALEE 2d QTC Copperama H., Toowoomba Fitton Insurance Hopeful P.

128: DANTE’S BEST (c King’s Best-Pedante) 1 win at 1700m

132: MRS MANGO (f Langfuhr-Pipe The Side). 2 wins at 1100, 1200m

141: FRAMOUS (g Quest For Fame-Portrait Collector) Won AJC Princesses Welcome Maiden P. (1400m)

157: PUNCHESS (USA) is a 4 time winner and $85,950 in USA

197: PARTIVA (f Orpen-Satirical Miss) 1 win at 1008m

239: SUSPENDED TIME (f Gilded Time-Spurani) 2 wins at 2 at 900, 1100m. inc. STC 73 Day to Golden Slipper H.

248: PERSONIFY (f Galileo-Procrastinate) Won SAJC Queen Adelaide S. L (1100m.) at 2

270: General Nediym-Thunderbowl is a Chestnut Filly NOT colt as stated

457: TURN THE TIDE winner of the STC Book Now For Golden Slipper Festival H. (1200m)

474: COUNTESS BATHORY winner of the STC 56 Days ‘til AAMI Golden Slipper Day H. (1400m)

SOME EXPECTED HIGHLIGHTS CLASSIC DAY 1

13. c. Flying Spur x Jeune Girl From a good 2YO family, by one of Australia’s leading sires

34. c. Choisir x La Minita By former Champion 2YO Choisir

77. c. Tale Of The Cat x Miss Chakra By a promising young sire from a Marscay mare

78. c. Arena x Miss Chanel Outstanding type of colt, full-brother to recent Melbourne winner Esceegee

81. c. Hussonet x Miss Larnoo y a hot first crop sire from a Danehill three-quarter sister in blood to Joie Denise

129. c. Catbird x Pellant Road By a leading 2YO sire from a Zabeel half-sister to VRC Oaks winner Weekend Delight

130. c. Choisir x Penita Half-brother to Group 3 winner Vita, by exciting first crop sire Choisir

140. c. Danehill Dancer x Portrait By a leading sire from a half-sister to current sprinting star Jet Spur

153. c. Flying Spur x Prized Possession By popular sire Flying Spur from a half-sister to top juvenile Molokai Prince

162. f. Galileo x Queen’s Suite By leading freshman sire from a half-sister to Golden Slipper placegetter Regal Chamber

199. c. Tobougg x Scale The Heights By dual Group 1 winning juvenile Tobougg from a good city winning mare

251. f. General Nediym x Suddenly Sara By leading sire of 2YOs from a great black-type filly family

MERINGO STUD

Tony Hartnell’s Meringo Stud will collect the $30,000 vendor prize as the consignor of Absolutelyfabulous at last year’s Classic.

It has been an exciting fortnight for the NSW South Coast farm as they also bred last week’s Lightning Stakes winner Takeover Target who is set to represent Australia at Royal Ascot in June.

Meringo Stud present four yearlings at this year’s Classic including three by resident stallion Mr Henrysee.

Lot 155 Mr Henrysee (USA) x Protective is a full-brother to the Meringo bred dual Group 1 winner Victory Vein.

Next up is lot 235 a colt by Mr Henrysee (USA) out of the Canberra Guineas winner Splendifico.

During Monday’s second session they offer a Rhythm (USA) half-brother to the Group 3 winner Enforced as lot 424 and finally lot 520 a Mr Henrysee (USA) half-brother to the stake-placed Danehill gelding Endanger.

PERFECT GROUP 1

PERFECT PROMISE (2005 Christmas T’Bred $725,000) sprung a surprise to beat the boys and land the Group 1 C.F. Orr Stakes at Caulfield for local trainer Lee Freedman.

The South African bred mare topped the Inglis Christmas Thoroughbred Sale as part of the Written Bloodstock Dispersal in November.

The syndicate, who owned several very smart performers, collapsed last year and the sale marked the beginning of the dispersal of their horses.

The mare was bought by Sean Buckley’s Ultra Thoroughbreds having already won a Group 1 in her native South Africa before moving to Australia, where she was best placed second in the Group 1 QTC Stradbroke H. at Eagle Farm.

Perfect Promise got up to deny Lad Of The Manor with FIELDS OF OMAGH (1999 Premier $50,000) in third.

Freedman also sent out SERENADE ROSE (2004 Easter $400,000) in the Listed MRC Wellington Racing Club Stakes. Making her first start since winning the VRC Oaks in Spring the Stravinsky filly was just denied victory by Thin And Crispy. Serenade Rose’s half-sister by King’s Best is lot 324 in the 2006 Premier Sale.