Special Winner for Smart Missile

Before Black Caviar and before Miss Andretti, there was another 'Queen of Speed' and her name was Special and it was her grand-son that provided the latest winner for reigning Champion First Season Sire Smart Missile at Gosford on Thursday.

Prepared by Paul Perry, three year-old colt Gadfly showed the benefit of recent racing to score a tenacious long head win in the 1200 metre maiden.

With three placings at his three previous runs at the Beaumont track at Newcastle, Gadfly had experience and fitness on his side to score a deserved win for the Newton Thoroughbreds Racing Syndicate.

A $330,000 Magic Millions purchase for his trainer from the Arrowfield draft, Gadfly is the second winner from Distinctive, a Falbrav (IRE) half-sister to stakes-winners Specialize and Stavka and to the dam of triple Group I winner Bomber Bill.

Distinctive is one of nine winners for remarkable racemare and producer Special, who won races such as the Group I VRC Newmarket Handicap, Lightning Stakes and Gadsden Stakes.

Arrowfield Stud sold a full sister to Gadfly at Magic Millions this year to Cloud 9 Thoroughbreds for $200,000.

Gadfly is the tenth winner for Arrowfield based Smart Missile and his second of the new season.