Talented Filly Books Australian Oaks Position

Winning by just shy of 3-lengths when racing over the mile last Saturday at Caulfield for the Chris Waller stable, improving filly Brookspire (Hinchinbrook-Inspired, by Zabeel) has drawn perfectly in barrier seven on Saturday for not only her first attempt at 2000m, but also at the elite level when she steps up to the Gr1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) at Morphettville. Jockey Michael Walker will stick with the filly who is currently on the third line of betting for the race behind the imported Steinem (Frankel-Thai Noon, by Dansili) and the unbeaten Tasmanian filly Hela (Night Of Thunder-Smooth Return, by Redoute's Choice). Purchased for $300,000 by her trainer and part owner Brae Sokolski from the Bhima draft at the Magic Millions Yearling Sale, Brookspire is a half-sister to Gr1 Railway Stakes winner Inspiration Girl (Reliable Man) – see below – and the Listed winner Ruettiger (Duporth), with their Zabeel-sired dam Inspired a full sister to Gr3 Naturalism Stakes winner Rainbow Styling (Zabeel). Bred on the same Fastnet Rock – Zabeel pedigree cross as Gr1 New Zealand Derby winner Rangipo, the distance should not pose an issue for Brookspire who is the latest reminder that the history of ill-fated Hinchinbrook (also sire of Kingstar Farm's promising second season sire Unite and Conquer) is far from complete.