Godolphin
returned to the yearling sales as significant purchasers in 2018 and gained a
big result when one of those purchases Exhilarates won the Magic Millions 2YO
Classic earlier this year and it was another filly they bought at auction that
won them the first race of the last metropolitan meeting of the season in Sydney
at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
Fastnet Rock filly Avon River was a $500,000 Inglis Premier purchase for
Godolphin from the Rushton Park draft and was up and running in January to
place behind classy colt Hightail on debut at Randwick and was also fourth to
subsequent Group I winner Castelvecchio in the $2million Inglis Millennium.
The James Cummings trained filly spelled after that effort and while her first
two runs back this time in delivered moderate fourth placings at Caulfield, she
showed there was more to offer with her effort today.
Avon River appeared to appreciate the better ground and hit the line hard for
Tommy Berry to win the 1300 metre maiden by a long head over her stablemate
Promotions with nearly four lengths back to the third horse.
"It's great to see her back on track," said James Cummings, who will be looking
to target Black Type with Avon River in coming months.
"The margin back to the third horse would suggest the first two can mix it with
the better three year-olds in the next few months."
Avon River is the second winner from stakes-winning Artie Schiller (USA) mare
Lady Melksham, who has a weanling colt by Pride of Dubai and is in foal to
Russian Revolution.
Avon River is the 17th two year-old winner of the season for Coolmore's
champion sire Fastnet Rock, who has had a great run with his juveniles this
year who include Group I winner Prince Fawaz and Group II winner Anaheed. He stands
at a fee of $165,000.