Yarraman Park’s Hellbent has made his name with a couple of outstanding Group I winning mares in Magic Time and Benedetta and he may well have another on the rise in exciting three year-old filly Bauhinia, who scored a scintillating first up win in the $150,000 Magic Millions Wyong Stakes (1200m) for three and four year-olds.
Trained by Lee and Cherie Curtis, Bauhinia created a big impression in her first preparation when finishing second at Canterbury, winning at Newcastle and then finishing a close and unlucky sixth in the Group II ATC Silver Shadow Stakes won by Ameena.
Spelled straight after that, she was given a soft trial leading into her return and with regular partner Tommy Berry on board was given a good chance of upsetting race favourite The Novelist.
He set a brisk tempo in front, while her tardy departure from the gates saw Bauhinia settle a distant last, but Tommy Berry rode her with great confidence and she sprouted wings late to grab The Novelist on the line winning by half a length in track record time of 1.07.67.
The previous record was held by another three year-old filly in Graceful Anna, who won this race in 2009 and then went north to win the Group III BRC Vo Rogue Stakes and the Magic Millions 3YO Trophy at her next two starts!
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Curtis emotional after the win and compared Bauhinia to the best horses he has trained.
“I thought we had no hope and I thought if we get home and run past a few that would be good and run third,” said Curtis.
“She picked them up so quick and they’ve run a track record!
“I said to the connections coming in we’re probably a bit inexperienced, but she’s got massive x-factor and this takes me back to when I had Private Steer (multiple G1 winner) at the start. She’s exceptional.”
A $300,000 Magic Millions purchase from Yarraman Park for Frank and Christine Cook’s Mystery Downs, Bauhinia runs for an all womens ownership group and carries the colours of Christine Cook. She has now won two of four starts earning $118,000 with the promise of a lot more to come.
Bauhinia was bred by Yarraman Park and is the first foal of stakes-winner Like a Butterfly, who comes from a high class Western Australian female family that has produced plenty of stakes-winners including Group I ATC Canterbury Stakes winner Mizzy and recent stakes-winner She’s All Pizzazz.
Like a Butterfly was covered last spring by Brave Smash (Jpn) after missing the two previous seasons and produced a colt in August and is now back in foal to Hellbent.
