Best On Breeding

Mark Smith - Friday August 9

There was not a lot of love for Just Like Gaby in the betting ring when she made her debut down the 1000m Flemington straight on July 20. Still, there was enough to like about her fighting fourth behind the undefeated First Settler to suggest she is a leading chance in Saturday’s Dominant Hcp at Moonee Valley on Saturday.

The Ciaron Maher-trained daughter of Pierata has drawn the outside barrier in the 1000m scamper. Hopefully, she will take a similar liking to the track as her dam, Loving Gaby.

In three undefeated starts at Moonee Valley, Loving Gaby scaled the heights in the Manikato Stakes and William Reid Stakes and defeated Exilerates in the Group III Scarborough Stakes.

Advertisement

Bred by Kia Ora Stud and Alan Bell, Loving Gaby came from the sixth crop of I Am Invincible and was a start from day one, defeating her stablemate Bella Rosa in the Group III Chairman’s Stakes at Caulfield.

Bella Rosa was fresh off defeating Lankan Star in the Group III Ottawa Stakes, and Lankan Star defeated all bar Lyre in the Blue Diamond with Loving Gaby in sixth after being pinballed down the length of the straight.

Sent to Sydney for the 2yo Triple Crown, Loving Gaby clocked in Golden Slipper on a heavy track, second to Microphone in the Sires’ Produce (1400m), and second to Castelvecchio in the Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Randwick, the last time she was asked to travel further than 1200m.

In addition to victories in the Manikato Stakes, William Reid Stakes and Scarborough Stakes, the daughter of I Am Invincible finished second to Nature Strip in the VRC Classic, to Bivouac in the Newmarket Handicap, and was third to Gytrash and Redzel in the Lightning Stakes.

Loving Gaby loved Moonee Valley (image Racing Photos)

A $500,000 purchase for Phoenix Thoroughbreds from the Kia Ora Stud draft at the 2018 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Loving Gaby retired with a record of four wins, five seconds, and a third from 13 starts with earnings of $2,281,250.

Following her excellent juvenile season, it was little wonder there was great excitement when Lving Gaby’s dam Maastricht took centre stage at the 2019 Inglis Chairman’s Sale.

Carrying a sister to Loving Gabby, the daughter of Mastercraftsman (IRE) was hammered down to Coolmore/ James Bester Bloodstock for a sales-topping $2,250,000.

Maastricht was an acclomished racemare in her own right.

A $220,000 Karaka yearling, she was the most expensive yearling from the first crop of her 4-time Group 1 winning sire, a price no doubt helped through the deeds of her half-sister, the Group 1 SAJC Goodwood Handicap winner Velocitea.

Trained by Michael, John and Wayne Hawkes, Maastricht won her first two starts before finishing second to Fontein Ruby in the Group II Edward Manifold Stakes and to Set Square in the Listed Ethereal Stakes. She would later be placed in the Group II Alister Clark Stakes and Group III Adrian Knox Stakes.

Just Like Gaby an $800,000 Magic Millions yearling

 Segenhoe Stud consigned Just Like Gaby to the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where Ciaron Maher Bloodstock/Kevin Kelly had the final say at $800,000.

That made her the most expensive yearling from the first crop of Pierro’s outstanding son Pierata, who now stands at Yulong after beginning his career at Aquis.

Kennewell Racing/Group 1 Bloodstock (FBAA) shelled out $400,000 for Loving Gaby’s Snitzel filly at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

After slipping in 2022, Loving Gaby made another visit to Snitzel last spring. 

Advertisment
More Reading...
Lady Shenandoah Breaks Maiden in G3 Ming Dynasty
 The Snitzel filly Lady Shenandoah continued the great run enjoyed by Hermitage Thoroughbreds when breaking her maiden in Saturday's Group III Precise Air Ming Dynasty Quality (1400m) at Rosehill.
Traffic Warden Mows Then Down in G2 Run To The Rose
The Group II VRC Sires' Produce Stakes winner Traffic Warden lowered the colours of the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained pair, Anode and Storm Boy in Saturday's Group II James Squire Run To The Rose (1200m) at Rosehill.
Encap Stakes Golden Eagle Claim
Second in the Group I ATC Golden Rose last spring to Militarize, the Gary Portelli trained Capitalist gelding Encap soared to new heights at Rosehill on Saturday when he arrived on the line to win the Group II ATC Theo Marks Stakes (1300m).
Pedigree Watch – Euro G1
Three Group I races run overnight in Ireland and the UK including the time honoured St Leger, which delivered a 101st Group I winner for legendary sire Galileo in undefeated colt Jan Brueghel, while boom Night of Thunder colt Economics also claimed his first G1 win.
Wootton Bassett 2YOs on Fire – Two New SW
Wootton Bassett’s exceptional year with his juveniles went into overdrive overnight at Leopardstown in Ireland where he sired Green Impact to win the Group II Champions Juvenile Stakes (1m) and Chantez to win the Listed Ingabelle Stakes (7f).
Growing Empire Full sister for Inglis Easter 2025
A $20m Everest, a $10m Golden Eagle, a G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes and a G1 Flight Stakes are among the spring targets of a quartet of Inglis graduates who all enjoyed Stakes success today.
Arkansaw Kid Back in the Good Books in G2 Bobbie Lewis Quality
With a full brother catalogued for the Ready To Run Sale at Karaka in November, Arkansaw Kid scored a timely win in Saturday’s Group II HKJC World Pool Bobbie Lewis Quality (1200m) while completing a memorable day at Flemington for Lindsay Park.
Kiwi Bred Grinzinger Belle Wins G2 Let's Elope
New Zealand-bred mare Grinzinger Belle made a bold start to her spring campaign with a commanding front-running performance in Saturday’s A$300,000 Group II Furphy Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m) at Flemington.
Sires With Winners - Saturday September 14
Here is the full list of 116 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
New G3 Winner Churchill
Versatile shuttle sire Churchill (IRE) added a new stakes-winner to his tally in Ireland on Saturday where four year-old gelding Trustyourinstinct took out the Group III Kilternan Stakes (1m4f) continuing his successful transition from hurdling.