News

Fiesta drives opponents into the ground as Gold Riband bonus goes off

3rd Feb 2018

Fairhill Farm principal Mike O’Donnell was lost for words when realising Fiesta’s win in today’s Group 3 Widden Stakes at Rosehill had earned him a $100,000 bonus.

O’Donnell bred and offered Fiesta (I Am Invincible x Now Now) in the Gold Riband session at last year’s Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.

There was a bonus on offer for all Gold Riband graduates whereby Inglis would pay a $100,000 bonus split 50/50 between the vendor and supplier of the first horse sold in the session to win a 2YO Stakes race.

Fiesta achieved that feat in brilliant fashion today, defying a significant bump at the start of the race and no luck in the straight to score a comprehensive victory for her connections.

“I obviously knew about the bonus that it existed but when I got the call from Jonathan [D’Arcy] earlier it was a bloody nice surprise,’’ O’Donnell laughed.

“And what perfect timing, a day before we take our draft to Classic for this year’s sale where we’ve got 10 horses and a very nice Hinchinbrook colt [Lot 91] in Gold Riband next Saturday night.

“I’ll tell you one thing, Fiesta is a tough thing. She got hit at the start, she over-raced, she couldn’t get out in the straight yet she still won.’’

Fiesta was a $150,000 buy for Star Thoroughbreds and Chris Waller Racing at the 2017 Classic Sale, where Denise Martin of Star Thoroughbreds first saw the filly.

“Renowned bloodstock agent Steve Brem help me select her and she was so popular that the filly was almost fully subscribed in her ownership before we left Newmarket that Saturday night,’’ Martin said.

“I can’t wait for this Saturday night for the Gold Riband session again and the first sale at Riverside.

“I’ve visited Riverside twice and it’s outstanding, absolutely outstanding.

“The facilities are amazing. It will be a wonderful week, I’m so excited. It’s a vision, it’s phenomenal for vendors and for buyers and I can’t wait to get back there.’’

The 2018 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, the historic first sale at Riverside Stables, runs from February 10-13.

To view the catalogue, CLICK HERE.

Meanwhile 3YOs Trapeze Artist (Snitzel x Treppes) and Cliff’s Edge (Canford Cliffs x Simulation) made winning returns when claiming the Group 2 Expressway Stakes at Rosehill and Group 3 Manfred Stakes at Caulfield respectively.

Group 1-winning colt Trapeze Artist will again be given the chance to prosper at the top level during the autumn by his trainer Gerald Ryan, although he was non-committal when asked in which particular races.

Trapeze Artist is a graduate of the Australian Easter Yearling Sale, when offered by his owner and breeder Bert Vieira of the Vieira Group.

And Cliff’s Edge showed he’s in for another big campaign with a strong first-up win.

The Darren Weir-trained colt proved himself a Group 1 contender last campaign and will target the Australian Guineas at the top level following today’s impressive return.

Cliff’s Edge, bred by Victorian race photographer Ross Holburt and his brother Brett, is a Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale graduate, where his trainer Darren Weir and John Foote Bloodstock paid $60,000 for him from Bucklee Farm.

Bucklee Farm is offering Cliff’s Edge Danerich half-brother as Lot 95 at the Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale at Oaklands Junction from March 4-7.

To view the full catalogue, CLICK HERE.