It’s not easy to win a stakes race at just your third start, but exciting Vancouver filly Night Raid did just that when taking out the Listed MVRC Atlantic Jewel Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
Prepared by Mick Price and Mick Kent Jr, Night Raid was a seven length maiden winner at Tatura on August 15 when resuming from a spell after finishing fourth on debut at Flemington on New Year’s Day.
In contrast to her maiden when she led all the way, this time Night Raid took a sit behind the leaders and when shown clear running charged to the line for Mark Zahra to win by a neck.
“She’s all class, all quality. You watch her in the yard and she lowers her head and has a beautiful walk, she walks like a panther,” said co-trainer Mick Kent Jr.
“It was a good deep field of fillies and she measured up, so hopefully we are looking at a Guineas campaign now.
“She can go to the Guineas Prelude in two weeks and then on to the big one. We are optimistic she has the scope to be a miler.”
A $160,000 Magic Millions purchase from the Three Bridges Thoroughbreds draft for Sheamus Mills Bstock (FBAA)/Mick Price Racing, Night Raid runs in the colours of Bill Frost’s Pendant Racing and has already won over $100,000 with two wins from three starts.
Bred by Three Bridges Thoroughbreds in partnership, Night Raid is a half-sister to stakes-placed Mujallad and Tarismo being the fifth winner from five foals to race from stakes-winning Pins mare Raid.
Bought for $380,000 from the Bell View Park draft at the 2016 Inglis Broodmare Sale by Paul Willetts Bloodstock Consultancy for Unencumbered Syndicate, Raid is a full sister to the dam of dual Group I winner Stratum Star and last season’s promising Group III winning colt Prague, the family tracing back to champion racemare Emancipation.
Raid has not had a foal since Night Raid and was covered last season by Shooting to Win.
Night Raid is the second stakes-winner, but first in Australia for Golden Slipper winner Vancouver, who stands at Coolmore Australia at a fee of $30,250.
