Blog

While many owners would be frustrated that it took until the seventh start for their runner to break their maiden, but all was pushed aside on Sunday when Red Silhouette recorded an impressive three length victory at Racing.com Park in the R & C Asphalt Paving Maiden Plate.

Ridden by Michael Dee, the three-year-old filly jumped away cleanly from the middle of the line where she traveled forward to settle in fourth on the outside of the slightly erratic Vanilla Ice Cream.

Outsider Forrest Boy took up the leading position with short price favourite St Rumon on his outside appearing to get the run of the race.

Dropping back a little, Dash For Dee and Violet Fluture went around Red Silhouette but Dee didn’t appear to panic, although needing a gap was going to be his main priority.

As the leader started to weaken and St Rumon was urged to the lead, Dash For Dee started to make a challenge, but it was evident that Red Silhouette was going to play a part in the finish as the filly started to make up ground down the outside to look a leading chance.

Sprinting to the lead, the Tony Noonan-trained filly cleared out to record an impressive three length victory over Distant Sky, with a further half-length back to Dash For Dee. Click the below image to view the win.

Purchased from the draft of Curraghmore Stud at the 2014 New Zealand Premier Yearling Sale, Red Silhouette is the first out of the Listed winning More Than Ready mare Floramour, herself a winner of five.

Interestingly, trainer Tony Noonan secured the second foal from the mare a year later, a colt by Jimmy Choux who was left in New Zealand to do his early racing, where the colt was named Manolo Blahniq and went on to record success in the Group 3 Eclipse Stakes earlier this year.

Special congratulations to the winning connections of Red Silhouette – Laurel Oak Bloodstock P/L (Mgr: L J Mihalyka), Grant Bloodstock P/L (Mgr: S P Grant), A N Fitzgerald, Boeara Holdings (Mgr: Mrs D A Dunphy), Rdfit P/L (Mgr: S C Cook), P L Nottage, M K J Strassmeir, Mrs L J Strassmeir, Dr T P Clarke, Mrs C A McHugh, P J Peters, Laurel Oak Club Number Two and A Kustron.

Underrated three-year-old Sir Bacchus may get the opportunity of a Brisbane winter carnival campaign after thrashing his rivals first-up at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

The Chris Waller-trained grey won back-to-back races at Canterbury and Randwick in December, prompting a belated bid for the $1m Magic Millions Guineas at the Gold Coast on January 10.

Sadly for his horde of owners, about 60, Sir Bacchus was below his best and finished well down the order and was sent for a well earned break.

The son of Sebring has clearly benefited from his time away from racing after yesterday’s 2½-length win after a heady ride by Jason Collett.

Collett snagged Sir Bacchus ($6.50) back to last early before making the bold decision to pin his hopes along the rails rather than come around them.

Sir Bacchus sprinted quickly passing the 300m streaking away with stablemate So Willie ($41) making ground from the back to take second just ahead of Dark Steel ($6.50).

Odds-on favourite Reincarnate had the run of the race but couldn’t add to his sequence of three straight wins and finished a disappointing fourth.

Winning jockey Collett who walked the track before the first race prepared for all contingencies but not locked into a plan.

“I just sort of had an open mind as to where I’d be in the run and as to where I’d come down the straight,’’ Collett said. “Once I gave him that rein, he was off and gone and made it look easy.’’

With Waller on holidays, deputy Charlie Duckworth said the manner of Sir Bacchus’ win was enough to consider a trip away this winter. “It was very impressive,’’ Duckworth said. “He put them away with relative ease so hopefully he’ll progress up to Queensland.’’

Sir Bacchus returned to his huge team of happy owners brought together by well known syndicator Louis Mihalyka of Rebel Dame fame.

“There are about 60 people in Sir Bacchus,’’ Mihalyka said. “There are a couple of syndicates, of them only goes into grey coloured horses; they call themselves the Dirty Greys.’’

News: Shayne O’Cass, The Daily Telegraph

Images: Simon Bullard