The powerful Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable had runners right around Australia on Saturday and tasted success in South Australia when progressive mare Splendiferous scored a commanding win in the Listed SAJC Port Adelaide Cup (2500m).
Fourth in the Group I BRC Queensland Oaks last year, Splendiferous has always shown good staying potential and the daughter of Pride of Dubai produced a career best performance to win by five lengths for Craig Williams.
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“I spoke to Gai and Adrian Bott – they were very bullish about her chances,” Craig Williams said.
“They said she’s really come on from her Sale win ($150,000 Gippsland Racing Clubs’ Country Oaks over 2200m on April 15).
“She gained confidence and they were confidence she’d run this trip out, and the race worked out nicely.
“Now she’s a black-type winner for the breeding barn.”
A $100,000 Magic Millions purchase for James Bester Bloodstock from the Aquis Farm draft, Splendiferous runs for a big syndicate of lady owners who are no doubt having a lot of fun with her and have a valuable asset for the future now she is a stakes-winner.
She has the overall record of five wins from 17 starts with prizemoney just shy of $300,000.
Bred by Aquis, Splendiferous is a half-sister to Group III winner Ballistic Boy and is the second stakes-winner from Magical Mist, a metro winning half-sister by High Chaparral to Group I winner Distill and Group I placed stakes-winner Mr Tipsy.
Magical Mist has had four foals to race and all are winners with the fourth also coming today with 2YO The Mission gelding Yellow Brick winning on debut at Ipswich.
Magical Mist was a savvy purchase for Twin Hills / G1 Goldmine when snapped up for $60,000 at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale in 2020 and she was covered last spring by Smart Missile.
Splendiferous brings a big pedigree update for her half-sister Lygia, who will be offered by Willow Park Stud at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale as Lot 1189 in foal to Star Turn.
She is the 14th stakes-winner for Pride of Dubai, who is a value option on the Coolmore roster this spring at a fee of $16,500.
