The horse in question is four year-old Elusive Quality (USA) mare Gamba, who was a hot favourite at Canterbury on Wednesday following easy victories at Canberra, Newcastle and Canberra again.The Guy Walter trained mare justified punters faith when enjoying the run of the race from barrier two before scooting clear to take the 1250 metre assignment as she pleased.
A $260,000 Inglis Easter purchase for Waratah Thoroughbreds from the draft of Willow Park Stud, Gamba (pictured as a yerling) was the most expensive yearling by her sire offered in 2010 in a year when his overall average was just $56,000.
Bred by Catherine Remond, Gamba is the second winner for stakes-winning Danehill (USA) mare Crevette, a full sister to Hong Kong champion Fairy King Prawn and half-sister to Group I winner Easy Rocking from top producer Twiglet.
"I remember the first year I owned Willow Park and did the matings for Catherine I was absolutely determined to get Twiglet back to Danehill," recalled Glenn Burrows of Willow Park.
"I said to her that we don't know how much longer Danehill will be around for and it would be a win/win whatever sex the resultant foal was. If it was a colt he would go to Easter and being a full brother to Fairy King Prawn he could make anything and if she had a filly we must keep her.
"She ended up having a beautiful filly, which was Crevette, who won three stakes races and was Group placed behind Virage de Fortune. That turned out to be the last year Danehill stood in Australia."
When Crevette retired to stud, Burrows considered her options."I thought that Crevette would match beautifully type wise and pedigree wise with Elusive Quality and although he was at the crossroads I figured we have to breed racehorses and not just for the sales ring," Burrows said.
"It seems that Gamba is going to be successful in both as she turned out to be easily the most expensive yearling by her sire that year and is now showing serious stakes potential on the track."
Interestingly, the Elusive Quality x Danehill cross has turned out to be far superior than any other cross for Elusive Quality and from 84 runners it has produced 64 winners and more than 8% stakes winners, plus over 23% stakes horses including Golden Slipper winner Sepoy and Group I winner Camarilla.
Crevette (pictured at Willow Park last year with her foal) produced a filly by Lonhro last spring that will be offered at the 2014 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale and is now in foal to So You Think.
