Well Bred Fillies on Show at Canterbury

Friday night’s Canterbury meeting sees the debut run of a pair of high-priced, well-bred fillies in the opening race, the Cale Barbara Taylor Handicap (1250m). Sold through the draft of Holbrook Thoroughbreds to Godolphin for $950,000 at the 2019 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, the Bob Peters-bred Iolanthe is by Coolmore’s promising young sire Vancouver, out of the Gr2-winning Domesday mare Arcadia Dream, herself a half-sister to the three-time Gr1 winner Arcadia Queen (Pierro). Another sure to create plenty of interest is the Mill Park Stud-consigned Not A Choice, with the Magic Millions sold daughter of Arrowfield Stud’s Not A Single Doubt out of the Listed-winning Hussonet mare Hussy By Choice. Purchased by the Huddy’s Peachester Lodge for $725,000, the John O’Shea-trained filly goes into her debut off the back of four barrier trials, most recently finishing a length second over 1045m. While neither are likely to start favourite, it is another well-bred filly, the Chris Waller-trained Good Omens (So You Think ) who has had good backing ahead of the race. Second on debut over 1200m at Warwick Farm just over two weeks ago, the filly is a grand-daughter of Gr1 Golden Slipper winner and Champion 2YO Burst.

Debutante Iolanthe is closely related to Arcadia Queen (pic: Steve Hart)