Second
in the Magic Millions and third in the Golden Slipper, Danehill (USA) colt
Churchill Downs retired to Blue Gum Farm in 2007, but the winners were slow to
come for him and in 2012 he was sold and exported to Libya.
It's a much repeated saying that 'they all get one' and Churchill Downs may
have found his in the shape of progressive five year-old mare Girl Guide, who
won the Group III MRC Sportingbet Sprint at Caulfield on Saturday in a
thrilling finish.
One of four winners on the day for David Hayes and Tom Dabernig, Girl Guide
poked her nose in front right on the line to snatch a narrow victory in the
1200 metre sprint.
Retained to race by her breeders, who include David Hayes, Girl Guide has the
impressive record of six wins and two placings from eight starts with
prizemoney of $258,050.
Girl Guide is a three-quarter sister to top class filly Gregers(by Commands),
also trained by Hayes, who is a multiple Group I placed Group II winner of more
than $700,000 in prizemoney.
Girl Guide and Gregers are from ill-fated Canny Lad mare Satnav, who died in
2012 after producing just three foals, all of which are winners.
Satnav is a full sister to another exceptional producer in Yes She Can Cancan,
the dam of Group I winners Ofcourseican and Gimmethegreenlight as well as stakes-placed
Longma and La Goulue.
She too died in 2012, but the daughters of Satnav and Yes She Can Cancan will
ensure this family gets every opportunity to improve even further in the future.
Girl Guide is the first Australian stakes-winner for Churchill Downs, who has
also left one stakes-winner in South Africa and one in Hong Kong.