Driefontein shot to the top of a class packed market for next month’s $2 million BMW Magic Millions 2YO Classic after an impressive all the way win in today’s Group Three BJ McLachlan Stakes at Doomben.
In making it two wins from as many starts for the powerful Gai Waterhouse stable, Driefontein emerged as one of the big contenders for Queensland’s richest event.
Luxbet reacted to the impressive win by cutting her quote to $3.80 – heading the market narrowly over McLachlan Stakes runner-up Sizzling ($3.90) and the impressive Sydney winner Amorino ($4.40).
The win was the second leg of a winning quartet for Tommy Berry – the Sydney based rider who shot to prominence when winning last year’s Classic aboard flying filly Karuta Queen.
“She won the race in the first 100 metres today when she began so brilliantly,” Berry told AAP.
“She wanted to stagaze a bit towards the line too but that’s just her lack of experience and she could have won by further.”
“She doesn’t have to lead to win but when they go as fast as she does I’d rather be in front in the Millions than travelling behind green horses.”
“She’s a different filly to Karuta Queen because she was a flying machine whereas this filly can relax,” Berry added.
The win was celebrated by Sydney based syndicator Denise Martin – who through her Star Thoroughbreds operation purchased the outstanding youngster for $75,000 at January’s Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
“I’ve had so much success buying from Magic Millions – all of my top Group One horses were purchased from the Gold Coast,” Martin said.
“The sale is just so much fun each January – the atmosphere is fantastic and the horses are of great quality – I’m looking forward to the sale again in the new year.”
“Driefontein is a wonderful youngster and I can’t wait for her to run in the Magic Millions Classic in a couple of weeks.”
“Her syndicate is made up of both new and existing clients – there is an owner who was in Theseo – there’s another one who’s overseas and they are from around the country,” she added.
Runner-up Sizzling lost no admirers with a closing second placing in today’s feature juvenile.
Sizzling’s trainer Kelso Wood described the run as “sensational.”
“If you swap the barriers my horse would have won easily,” the veteran horseman noted.
Driefontein is by Coolmore Stud’s sire sensation Fastnet Rock and was bred by Bylong Park Thoroughbreds and sold through the draft of Widden Stud for $75,000 at January’s Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
She is the five runner and winner for the stakes winning Export Price mare Follow Gold – a winner of three staes and full sister to Export Gold, the stakes winning dam of Singapore star Forest Gold.
Winner: Driefontein
Breeding: Fastnet Rock-Follow Gold (Export Price)
Race: BRC BJ McLachlan Classic G3 (1200m)
Sold for: $75,000
Vendor: Widden Stud (As Agent)
Buyer: Star Thoroughbreds
Earnings: $158,000
Owner(s): Mrs AM Howlett, AJ Bealing, DK Dong, LA King, Dr ET Hodgson, Mrs I Murphy, JAJ Allen, C Tohl & Mrs SA Hardie
Trainer: Gai Waterhouse (Randwick)
PICS – Dan Costello.
