First to salute was Shamardal (USA) filly Joyful Journey, who carried the
Vinery Stud colours to a head victory in the 1300 metre maiden as favourite.A touch slow to begin from a wide gate, she was allowed to find her feet by Tommy Berry and gradually hit top gear down the running with her last furlong easily her best.
Resuming from a spell following two good runs for a fourth and a second in smart company in her first preparation, Joyful Journey is entered for several major races at The Championships so is well worth following.
A $340,000 Magic Millions purchase from the Torryburn Stud draft, Joyful Journey is a half-sister to stakes-winner Landing and is the fourth winner from Group III winning Flying Spur mare Joy of Flight, whose two year-old filly by Bernardini (USA), Almashooqa won easily in South Africa on debut last week.
Joy of Flight has a yearling colt by More Than Ready (USA), a filly foal by Street Cry (IRE) and was covered by So You Think last spring.
Making it a double for Team Hawkes was Medaglia D'Oro (USA) filly Coffee Hit,
who opened her account with a half-length win over 1400 metres with Tommy Berry
in the saddle.Bred by Makybe, Coffee Hit runs in the Arrowfield colours and was a $240,000 Inglis Premier purchase from the Yallambee Stud draft.
She is the third winner from three foals to race from Flying Spur mare Fountain Joy, who comes from the family of Group winners Happy Giggle, Living Spirit and Seaside.
Milburn Creek will offer the current yearling from Fountain Joy, a filly by Foxwedge as Lot 167 at the 2015 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale next Monday.
