Mill
Park graduates enjoyed a stakes double over the weekend with progressive mare Gogo
Grace taking out the Group III Bow Mistress Stakes in Tasmania on Friday, while
exciting three year-old filly Booker returned from a summer break to score a
dominant win in the Group III MRC Kevin Hayes Stakes at Caulfield.
The Group 1 MRC Oakleigh Plate is in the sights of the big-hearted Booker after
the three-year-old daughter of Written Tycoon defied all challengers to win the
1200 metre sprint by a length and a half.
Racing for the first time since finishing unplaced in the Group I MRC Thousand
Guineas over 1600m last October after winning the Group II MRC Thousand Guineas
Prelude at her previous start, Booker advanced her record to three wins and
three placings from seven starts with earnings of $393,750.
"Today was a terrific win and the Oakleigh Plate is the aim," said
co-trainer Matt Ellerton, who prepares the filly with Simon Zahra.
"She should get in with no weight, the problem will be getting a run.
"Dwayne (Dunn) was able to control the race from the front today and she
cornered terrific.
"She's strengthened from the spring and is an impressive filly now, she's
like a colt."
A $230,000 purchase by part-owner Barry Griffith from the Mill Park Stud draft
at the 2016 Inglis Premier Yearling sale, Booker is the first foal of the
winning Flying Spur mare Noondie who is a half-sister to stakes-winner Tranquillity
out of stakes-winner Creatrix from the family of Group I winner Umrum.
Mill Park sold the yearling full brother to Booker at the recent Magic Millions
for $600,000 to Bruce Perry Bloodstock. She foaled a Starspangledbanner colt last
spring and was bred back to Written Tycoon's Golden Slipper-winning son
Capitalist.
A homebred for Harry Perks that was raised at Mill Park, Gogo Grace is prepared
by Leon Macdonald and Andrew Gluyas.
The four year-old daughter of New Approach (IRE) had won four previous races in
Adelaide, but her win in the Group III Bow Mistress Stakes (1200m) was her
first in a Black Type race.
She is the best of two winners from stakes-winner Starmon, whose third dam
Cotehele House (GB) is renowned as the dam of Danewin and Commands with other
descendants including Group I winners Emerald Dream, Luna Rossa, Shooting to
Win and his Group II winning full brother Deep Field.
The next yearling sale for Mill Park is Inglis Premier where 14 lots are
consigned including a Sebring colt from outstanding producer Madame Flurry, the
dam of six winners headed by triple Group I winner and $3million earner Happy
Trails, Group III winner Danish Twist and this season's stakes-winning three
year-old All Too Huiying. Click
here to see the draft.