The Group I ATC Flight Stakes (1600m) is the first Group I event of the season for three year-old fillies and the honour list is long and impressive, but the 2016 winner stamped herself as something exceptional and her first foal will be out to win his first stakes race at Randwick on Saturday.
The newly formed Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott training partnership enjoyed immediate success back in the spring of 2016 when their promising Star Witness filly Global Glamour blossomed at her fourth start to lead all the way and win the Group I Flight Stakes.
Sent to Melbourne just days after that success, she backed up the following Saturday to win the Group I MRC Thousand Guineas becoming only the second filly this century to achieve the feat.
Raced throughout her career by a large group of all women owners, Global Glamour raced on successfully until she was retired at age five with earnings of $1.5million and then offered through the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale in 2019 when in foal to Zoustar.
She was bought for $1.55 million by Coolmore/Gerry Harvey and James Bester, who selected and purchased Global Glamour as a yearling for just $65,000.
Global Glamour duly produced a fine looking colt from the Zoustar mating and he was purchased by Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Racing from the Coolmore draft at Magic Millions for $600,000.
Raced by the Coolmore partners and Gerry Harvey, Scientist has shown above average ability with a third on debut followed by a midweek metro win and will take his place in the Listed ATC Dulcify Stakes (1600m) stepping up in trip to his mother’s favourite distance.
Zoustar has been riding the crest of a wave this spring and Scientist could easily keep the momentum going.
The second foal from Global Glamour is a Justify (USA) filly that made $900,000 at Magic Millions and she too will be heading to the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott stable.
Global Glamour has been luckless in her last two seasons at stud, but with a fresh start this spring has been covered by champion sire Snitzel.