A granddaughter of Waikato Stud’s magnificent broodmare Escada, Candy Love came from second last on the turn to break her maiden at start three in a Fillies & Mares Maiden Plate over 1500m at Sale on Friday.
Ridden by Daniel Moore for Anthony and Sam Freedman, Candy Love maneuvered to the middle of the track to mount her challenge.
The daughter of Savabeel picked off runner after runner to defeat the Sebring filly Flying Emmy a half-length, with the Turn Me Loose filly Disturbia two and a half lengths back in third.
“I was mindful that with the blinkers the first time, she didn’t get over racing, although I was a pair further back than I would have liked,” Moor said.
“She had the race in her keeping a long way out.
“She showed good ability at the jump-outs. She is still immature and learning her craft. She will get out to a trip beyond this in time.
“We thought she would run well last start, but she was a victim of the tempo on a Sandown track where you could not make ground.”
A homebred for Waikato Stud, Candy Love is the second winner from as many to race for the winning O’Reilly mare Absolutely Me. Her first foal Newley Wed, a sister to Candy Love, won at Rosehill in November for Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes.
A daughter of Escada (Centaine), Absolutely Me is a sister to Group II AJC Stan Fox Stakes winner Rare Insight (the dam of Group 1 Coolmore Classic winner Steps in Time), a three-quarter-sister to stakes-winner Bonny O’Reilly, and a half-sister to dual Group 1 winner Vision And Power and Glamour Puss.
Escada’s great-granddaughter Espiona credited the family with a second Group 1 Coolmore Classic at Rosehill last Saturday.
Absolutely Me has been a faithful partner to Savabeel for six seasons. She has a 2yo filly by the son of Zabeel and foaled a fourth consecutive filly last October.
