Astute
trainer Mick Kent produced an exciting debut winner at Flemington on Saturday
with Zoffany (IRE) colt Southerly Wind showing a stylish turn of foot to dash
away and win by three lengths.
Sent out favourite, Southerly Wind was well rated by Jake Bayliss to travel sweetly on the pace up the straight before accelerating smartly to drop his rivals cold in the 1100 metre sprint with So You Think colt So Si Bon running home well for second.
"He's definitely above average," said Bayliss.
"I was happy just to sit on him and wait for the 200m to give him a squeeze and then he put them away very easily."
His trainer Mick Kent was well pleased with the performance which lived up to expectation.
"He trialled well and is a natural runner," he said.
"He's very much a speed horse, so we'll give him another run and then think about the future."
Southerly Wind is the first winner for Folichonne, a minor winner by Denon (USA) from the family of Group winners Mic Mac and Chateau Fort.
Southerly Wind is the fifth Australian bred winner for Coolmore's Group I winning Dansili son Zoffany, who was the Champion First Crop Sire in Europe last year.
Zoffany was extremely popular at Coolmore Australia last spring covering 213 mares at a fee of $8,800, but is not returning to Australia this year.
Sent out favourite, Southerly Wind was well rated by Jake Bayliss to travel sweetly on the pace up the straight before accelerating smartly to drop his rivals cold in the 1100 metre sprint with So You Think colt So Si Bon running home well for second.
"He's definitely above average," said Bayliss.
"I was happy just to sit on him and wait for the 200m to give him a squeeze and then he put them away very easily."
His trainer Mick Kent was well pleased with the performance which lived up to expectation.
"He trialled well and is a natural runner," he said.
"He's very much a speed horse, so we'll give him another run and then think about the future."
Southerly Wind is the first winner for Folichonne, a minor winner by Denon (USA) from the family of Group winners Mic Mac and Chateau Fort.
Southerly Wind is the fifth Australian bred winner for Coolmore's Group I winning Dansili son Zoffany, who was the Champion First Crop Sire in Europe last year.
Zoffany was extremely popular at Coolmore Australia last spring covering 213 mares at a fee of $8,800, but is not returning to Australia this year.
Sidelined
since the start of the year, brilliant two year-old filly Conchita made a
successful return to racing at Randwick on Saturday for the Paul Perry stable.
The speedy daughter of red hot US sire Uncle Mo (USA) was an impressive debut winner at Randwick last October and had the Magic Millions in her sights before pulling up lame in the $200,000 Wyong Magic Millions where she failed to finish.
Tuned up with a recent trial win at Gosford, she produced her best on race day, surging to the lead for Thomas Huet and then fighting on too well for runner-up Star Crossed to win the 1000 metre scamper by a long head as favourite.
"She trialled terrific at Gosford, so she was very fit and ready to run a great race," said Paul Perry.
"We'll probably give her another run now we've got her right and then give her a little break."
A $130,000 Magic Millions purchase for her trainer from the Coolmore draft, Conchita is the first foal of unraced Danehill Dancer (IRE) mare Royal Dance, a half-sister to Group II winner Maria Royal.
A sire sensation in the US where his oldest progeny are three year-olds that include Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist, Uncle Mo was super popular at Coolmore Australia last year covering 193 mares at a fee of $16,500.
He remains in Kentucky this year and will not be in Australia this spring.
The speedy daughter of red hot US sire Uncle Mo (USA) was an impressive debut winner at Randwick last October and had the Magic Millions in her sights before pulling up lame in the $200,000 Wyong Magic Millions where she failed to finish.
Tuned up with a recent trial win at Gosford, she produced her best on race day, surging to the lead for Thomas Huet and then fighting on too well for runner-up Star Crossed to win the 1000 metre scamper by a long head as favourite.
"She trialled terrific at Gosford, so she was very fit and ready to run a great race," said Paul Perry.
"We'll probably give her another run now we've got her right and then give her a little break."
A $130,000 Magic Millions purchase for her trainer from the Coolmore draft, Conchita is the first foal of unraced Danehill Dancer (IRE) mare Royal Dance, a half-sister to Group II winner Maria Royal.
A sire sensation in the US where his oldest progeny are three year-olds that include Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist, Uncle Mo was super popular at Coolmore Australia last year covering 193 mares at a fee of $16,500.
He remains in Kentucky this year and will not be in Australia this spring.