| Soaring Ambition burst into contention for next month’s $2 million The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic with a stunning win in this afternoon’s $200,000 Wyong 2YO Classic (RL, 1100m). |
Warwick Farm based trainer Annabel Neasham flexed her muscles for the $10.25 million The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions Raceday on January 15 by training both feature winners on today’s quality Wyong card. Soaring Ambition created a huge impression when she flew home from the back of the field and overcame difficulties in a brilliant 2YO Classic win under Tommy Berry. The Not a Single Doubt filly, a $270,000 purchase for owner Zhongli Thoroughbreds, has Neasham looking forward to Queensland’s richest juvenile race. “I’m still having heart palpitations,” Neasham told Sky Racing moments after the win. “I thought she was going to be brought down at one stage around the bend.” “She’s such a gutsy filly. I’ve always had a lot of time for her and obviously it’s a great result for Mr Gu.” “She’s been an obvious filly for this race all along. We were pretty confident, but she’d drawn pretty wide and we were in two minds as to whether to wait for Saturday.” “They went quick up front. I left the instructions up to Tommy (Berry) and he timed it to perfection.” “To win the race is very special. She’s pretty talented because not everything went her way there and she still managed to get the job done.” “Bring on the Gold Coast,” a beaming Neasham added. Winning rider Tommy Berry was super impressed with the performance of Soaring Ambition and predicted a bright future for the classy filly. “It was a great effort,” Berry said post-race. “She picked herself up from the corner and ended up winning with a lot of authority which was great to see.” The 79th individual stakes winner for the inaugural Wyong 2YO Classic winner in 2003, Not a Single Doubt, Soaring Ambition is the third winner for her dam, the unraced Starcraft mare Tango. Tango is a full sister to the Group Three winner Lunar Rise and half sister to the stakes performers Crafty and King of the Dance. Further back it’s the family of international champion Peintre Celebre. Meanwhile, Neasham is eyeing off further Magic Millions success with the talented galloper Wisdom of Water after he scored an impressive win in today’s $100,000 Magic Millions Wyong 3&4YO Stakes (1200m) earlier in the card. A son of Headwater, Wisdom of Water finished strongly after a perfect ride from Rachel King and Neasham said the $70,000 Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase from Eureka Stud would be aimed at the Gold Coast Carnival. “It was a lovely ride and things opened up for her,” Neasham reported. “He really knuckled down and showed great fight today.” “He’s a very talented colt and I’m delighted for the Fungs, they are great clients of mine and this is one their favourite horses.” The $10.25 million The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions Raceday will be held on January 15. |
