Stakes Goal for Sacred Falls Filly

Media Release - Thursday April 23

Icebath will attempt to secure her first stakes victory at Rosehill on Saturday when she contests the Gr.3 Hawkesbury Guineas (1400m).

The three-year-old daughter of ill-fated Waikato Stud stallion Sacred Falls heads into the race in good form, having won two of her four starts this preparation, including a last-start runner-up performance in the Listed South Pacific Classic (1400m) at Randwick earlier this month.

Sacred FallsTrainer Brad Widdup was pleased with her last start effort and has been happy with her progress since then.

“She has come through her last start well and she seems in good order,” he said.

“This preparation she has been excellent. She ran great last start, it was just unlucky. It didn’t pan out for her, it’s just one of those things with racing.

“Unfortunately she couldn’t win, but I think she raced very well.”

Widdup purchased the Waikato Stud-bred filly in Australia as a yearling for $100,000 and said he has always had a lot of time for her and her sire.

“She wasn’t a big filly (as a yearling), but was very athletic and she is from a good Waikato family. I liked the stallion. I like stallions who have performed well in Australia,” Widdup said.

“I have always thought a bit of her. I raced her in stakes grade as a two-year-old. Those fillies races are pretty strong, she ran great then but was very backward.”

Icebath has subsequently gained black-type with her last start result, but Widdup is hoping she can go one better on Saturday.

“I think the barrier (7) is good enough, I would say there will be good speed in it,” he said. “If we can be midfield with cover and she can get a bit of room up the straight that would be great.

“I am not going to go in with any real plans, just have her where she is comfortable and see if she is good enough.

“It is a solid field again. She has got to climb another level this time, so we will see what happens.”

Widdup said this will likely be her last start this preparation and he believes punters will see an improved Icebath next preparation.

“I will probably tip her out after Saturday,” he said. “I don’t think I will go much further with her. We’ll look after her and she is going to be better next preparation.”

Icebath has the services of in-form jockey Glen Boss on Saturday and is rated a $5.50 chance, with key rival Indy Car, a last-start winner of the South Pacific Stakes under offer to Hong Kong and not a guaranteed runner. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Kiwi Bred Gringotts Wins $3million Big Dance
Talented New Zealand-bred gelding Gringotts(NZ) (Per Incanto) delivered a big payday for his connections with victory in Tuesday’s A$3 million Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday November 5
Here is the full list of 145 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Magic Nick Strikes Again – Fastnet Rock x Galileo
The Fastnet Rock x Galileo nick has been on fire in Melbourne this spring producing Cox Plate winner Via Sistina (IRE) and leading Melbourne Cup contender Buckaroo (GB) and it struck again overnight in the UK with a brand new stakes-winner in Military Academy, who captured the Listed Floodlit Stakes (1m4f) at Kempton.
Melbourne Cup Pedigree Analysis - Do It Yourself
Breednet has produced a great page with click through to five generation pedigrees for all the Melbourne Cup runners, so for amateur pedigree buffs looking to have a Cup flutter based pedigree here’s your chance  to DIY it!
All Too Hard's Arran Bay Brave in the Furphy Plate
Phillip Stokes admitted his preference was to run Arran Bay in the Listed John Letts Cup at Morphettville but was overruled by the owners, who made the correct decision in favouring the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) at Flemington.
$6million Frankel Mare Tops Fasig -Tipton November Sale
The Fasig-Tipton November Sale, billed as the World’s Premier Breeding Stock Event, was held Monday at the company’s Newtown Paddocks in Lexington, Kentucky. Twenty-five offerings sold for $1,000,000 or more, led by a trio of Grade/Group 1 winners with international appeal.
Kiwi Bred Grey Wins Subzero for OTI at Flemington
New Zealand-bred gelding Cloudland proved a handful for James McDonald at Flemington on Tuesday, but the champion jockey was in a forgiving mood after they had claimed top honours in the Subzero Handicap.
2024 Melbourne Cup Result - It's Knights Choice
The 2024 Melbourne Cup has been run and won with Knight’s Choice, a five-year-old gelding by Extreme Choice victorious.
Sires With Winners - Monday November 4
Here is the full list of 21 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Antrim Coast to Fly Flag for The Oaks Stud
The well-renowned colours of The Oaks Stud will feature across two feature Trans-Tasman meetings this week, kicking off with Antrim Coast lining up in the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) on Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington.