Sebring filly Futooh shapes as a major player in the top juvenile races in the autumn after a hugely impressive win in Saturday's TAB 2yo Handicap (1200m) at Randwick.
A close-up fourth at her career debut at Warwick Farm back on December 23, Futooh was eased back to near the tail of the field by Jason Collett after being caught deep from an outside barrier.
Balanced up by Collett, Futooh found the three-wide lane with cover coming around the home turn. She swept down the centre of the track with an impressive burst of acceleration to overpower the James Cummings' Ligulate (Domesday) by half a length with Peter and Paul Snowden's Sokudo (Not A Single Doubt) two and a quarter length back in third. (photo Steve Hart) .
Collett said the first up run of the David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig-trained filly had her primed for today.
"She was spot on today. We went back from the gate and was patient coming around the bend, we got on the back of one and when she was exposed she was pretty explosive," Collett said.
I think she might be better over a bit further. She's still learning her craft though. She jumped well but was a bit reticent coming back. She didn't really do what I wanted her to do but initially, I won. She's on the way up, it's hard to put a limit on how far she will go. Definitely, in time she will be better.
Despite drawing an outside barrier the stable remained confident according to stable representative Ryan Roberts.
"We came here with a lot of confidence," Roberts said. "She's a lovely filly.
"We were really happy when they moved from Warwick Farm to Randwick. The bigger straight with the rise gave her time to balance up and she was strong late.
"Obviously, the barrier draw hindered what we could do, we had to go back again but she's a filly that has taken a lot of improvement from her first run.
"She'll be even better once she gets over the seven furlongs."
A striking looking daughter of Sebring, Futooh (pictured as a yearling ) was purchased by Shadwell Stud for $375,000 out of the Sledmere Stud draft at the 2017 Inglis Australian Easter Sale.
Bred by Jenifer Mackay, Futooh is the fourth foal of the Listed Keith Mackay Quality winner Golden Millennium.
From the first Australian crop of Dubawi (IRE), Golden Millennium failed to make her modest $15,000 reserve at the 2009 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
Golden Millennium is the fourth and final foal of Manyara (Eagle Eyed), who was a half-sister to Group II STC Canterbury Stakes winner and Group 1 ATC The Galaxy runner-up Miss Kariba (Lunchtime) and Listed Supersnack (Lunchtime) from the family of stakes winners Speedy Belle, Whoever, Speedy Natalie, Sweet And Speedy and Silverstream.
She has a yearling filly by Shooting To Win and foaled a filly by Sebring on September 9 before being covered by Sebring's champion son Dissident.
Sebring is coming off another busy season at Widden Stud, covering 197 mares at a fee of $66,000.
He has 34 yearlings catalogued for the Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale, 7 at the Inglis Classic and 17 at the Inglis Premier.