Bargain Filly Wins G3 Spring Stakes- 100th SW for Choisir

Tara Madgwick - Saturday November 13

Purchased for just $33,000 from the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale by her trainer Matthew Smith, improving Choisir filly Festival Dancer ensured her future worth as a broodmare  when scoring a bold win over the colts in the $160,000 Group III Spring Stakes (1600m) at Newcastle on Saturday.

Festival Dancer wins G3 Spring Stakes giving Dylan Gibbons his first stakes win! - image Steve Hart

Festival Dancer wins G3 Spring Stakes giving Dylan Gibbons his first stakes win! - image Steve Hart



It took 10 starts for Festival Dancer to break her maiden in a 1600m race at Goulburn on October 5 and since then she’s been undefeated.

The daughter of Choisir won subsequent races at Kembla and Goulburn again before fronting up to Black Type company for this assignment.

She led all the way for rising star apprentice Dylan Gibbons and kept a good gallop to the line to win by two and a half lengths notching her fourth consecutive win.
 



Advertisement
“She’s got better with every run and her work has got better with every run,” said Matthew Smith.

“She paraded beautifully today, that was the best I’ve seen her parade and I was confident when I saw how calm she was as she has been a bit of a high-strung filly.

“It’s a pretty good effort to lead all the way over a mile here on a day like today, it was a really good strong run.

“We’ll put her away now and get her ready for the autumn.”

Festival Dancer gets a hug from a very happy Dylan Gibbons - image Steve Hart.

Festival Dancer gets a hug from a very happy Dylan Gibbons - image Steve Hart.



With four wins and three placings from 13 starts, Festival Dancer has already won over $166,000 in prizemoney for her lucky owners who include Frank and Christine Cook of Mystery Downs in whose colours she runs.

Consigned to Inglis Classic by Toolooganvale Farm, Festival Dancer was bred by Dr D Hummelstad, who retains a share in her ownership.

She is the best of three winners from Group III placed import Festival Princess (IRE) a Barathea mare from the family of German Group I winner Ransom O’War and Australian Group II winner Star of the Seas and stakes-winner Spieth.

Festival Princess has a yearling colt by Pride of Dubai.

Now retired Choisir hits the 100 stakes-winners milestone!

Now retired Choisir hits the 100 stakes-winners milestone!



Festival Dancer has the honour of becoming the 100th stakes-winner for now retired Choisir, the original Royal Ascot hero for Australia, who carved out a highly successful career for Coolmore at stud in both hemispheres.



 

Advertisment

Race Result - Njc Spring Stks Gr3 1600m

Newcastle Track: Good(4) Time: 1:38.30
1
Festival Dancer
- 3f Choisir (AUS) x Festival Princess (IRE) (Barathea (IRE))
Tnr: Matthew Smith Rdr: Dylan Gibbons 54.5
2
2.5
War Eternal
- 3c Pierro (AUS) x Aleria (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: J Parr 56.5
3
2.7
Arnaqueur
- 3c Astern (AUS) x Aloona (USA) (Smart Strike (CAN))
Tnr: Jean Dubois Rdr: Tommy Berry 56.5
4
2.8
Lease
- 3c Choisir (AUS) x Ume (NZ) (Stravinsky (USA))
Tnr: A J Cummings Rdr: N Rawiller 57
5
3.6
Holstein
- 3g Snitzel (AUS) x Affairoftheheart (NZ) (Fusaichi Pegasus (USA))
Tnr: M J Dunn Rdr: A Adkins 56.5
6
4.0
Kokoro
- 3c Real Impact (JPN) x Close To My Heart (IRE) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: J A O'Shea Rdr: J Bowman 56.5
7
4.5
Loch Eagle
- 3c Lonhro (AUS) x Song Street (IRE) (Shamardal (USA))
Tnr: K A Lees Rdr: J B Mc Donald 56.5
8
6.2
Moon Stories
- 3g Odyssey Moon (AUS) x Sea Stories (AUS) (Tale Of The Cat (USA))
Tnr: Ms T Bateup Rdr: Brock Ryan 56.5
9
8.4
Dufresne
- 3g Hinchinbrook (AUS) x Steflara (AUS) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: A J Cummings Rdr: J R Collett 56.5
10
11.8
Contributingfactor
- 3g The Factor (USA) x Contributing (AUS) (Foxwedge (AUS))
Tnr: D I Atkins Rdr: Tim Clark 56.5
11
14.3
Ironic Miss
- 3f Press Statement (AUS) x Cute And Cuddly (AUS) (Danehill Dancer (IRE))
Tnr: R E Ollerton Rdr: K Mc Evoy 54.5
12
14.8
Red Boulevard
- 3f Visionaire (USA) x Strawberry Lane (SAF) (Jallad (USA))
Tnr: Paul Messara Rdr: R Dolan 54.5
More Reading...
G1 Progeny Among Early Entries For Inglis Weanling Sales Series
Amongst the highlights of the 2025 Inglis Weanling Sales Series is sure to be the draft of Dorrington Farm-bred weanlings – which will be offered in conjunction with Noorilim Park – at the Australian Weanling Sale on May 5-6.
Sydney 2YO Wednesday - High Prices and 1st Season Sires
The two year-old race at Warwick Farm on Wednesday is an interesting, and seemingly open, one which sees the second highest priced Farnan yearling of 2024 entered, along with the third highest priced I Am Invincible along with several other first season sire debutants.
Silver Slipper Looks Gold - 4 of Top 7 To Clash
The fields are out for Saturday’s Rosehill card and the Silver Slipper has produced a salivating line up where we’ll see the next run of boom Wootton Bassett colt Wodeton in a race which includes four of the top seven in the Golden Slipper market.
Farnan Colt A Debut Winner - Slipper Crack Coming
High priced Farnan colt King Of Pop will be given his chance to get to the Golden Slipper after a debut win at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
Blue Diamond Market Movers Trying To Defy History
A day out from acceptances, the Monday market moves in the Blue Diamond have come for two horses trying to defy recent history on several fronts, while the favourite has paid up.
Racing Australia Invests In Study Into Early Detection Of Injury Risk
Racing Australia’s Research and Development Fund today announced in conjunction with the Equine Genetics Research Centre (EGRC) and Telemedvet, a combined investment of over $400,000 into a 12-month project to perform a cross-sectional study of a serum biomarker in the clinical investigation of equine musculoskeletal injuries.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday February 18
Here is the full list of 28 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Riccarton 2YO Winner for Maurice
Progressive juvenile Best Rose turned the tables on her key rival at Riccarton Park on Wednesday, scoring an impressive second-up victory in The Tea House At Riccarton Park 2YO (1000m).
Juvenile Trial Watch - Rosehill
There were six juvenile heats at the Rosehill barrier trials on Tuesday with a first look at two impressive youngsters by I Am Invincible a highlight along with another Farnan youngster confirming his talent.
Bargain Hellbent Filly Heading For Black Type
Legendary trainer Les Bridge can make something special out of a horse and will likely tackle stakes grade with his up and coming bargain Hellbent filly Scintilla after making it three in a row on Wednesday.