The favourite Here The Crowd looked likely to be swamped at the 200m, but the 3-year-old daughter of Trapeze Artist continued to rally to break her maiden a shade cozily over 1200m at Caulfield Heath on Wednesday.
Ridden by Carleen Hefel for Ciaron Maher, Here The Crowd defeated the imported 3yo Zoustar filly Valetudo (GB) by one and a quarter length, with the 4yo Niconni gelding Gator back in third.
Here The Crowd was second to the promising Icarus when on debut at Sandown on April 1.
“That was a good effort. She was a little wayward at her first start, possibly due to fatigue,” stable representative Jack Turnbull said.
“A city win at her second start for an inexpensive filly.
“She is a filly we have always liked but has taken a bit of time and I’m sure she will repay them.
She has enough speed to stay at 6f, but she is bred to get a lot further. I’d say 6f or 7f will see her out this time around.”
A $230,000 purchase for Ciaron Maher Bloodstock from the Newgate Farm draft at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Here The Crowd is a three-quarter sister to the Listed MVRC Valley Pearl winner Zamzan who was third in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes.
Bred by S F Bloodstock, Here The Crowd is the fifth winner for the stakes-placed Dehere (USA) mare Fleur De'Here, who was runner-up in the Group 1 Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes.
Sadly, Here The Crowd is the final foal of Fleur De'Here, who died in 2021.
