The monkey is finally off the back of Silmarillion, who broke her maiden at start six with a commanding win in Saturday’s Listed Musk Creek Farm Atlantic Jewel Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley.
Ridden by Kerrin McEvoy for James Cummings, the 3-year-old daughter of Too Darn Hot (GB) was given time to find her feet as Sassy Jenni led the field through sedate sectionals.
Set alight before the home turn, Silmarillion put the race to bed in a matter of strides and was untroubled to defeat the Written Tycoon filly Supercilious by three-quarters of a length, with the Snitzel filly Sakima the same distance back in third.
Twice Group II placed in the Silver Shadow Stakes, when separating the Tassort fillies Ameena and Manaal, and Reisling Stakes, narrowly defeated by Erno’s Cube, Silmarillion advances her record to one win, three seconds, and a third from six starts with earnings of $238,950.
“You’re never too confident too early, but Kerrin knew the filly; he knew what he had under him, and she put them away comfortably,” stable rep Nacim Dilmi said.
“She probably ended up a pair further back than what we wanted to, but Kerrin followed the right horse and put them away pretty well.”
“We’ll let the dust settle. She’s now a winner, but we don’t want to get too carried away too quickly.
“If she could get up to a mile, you’ve got a Thousand Guineas Guineas the end of the carnival.
“We’ll see how she pulls up and I’m sure they’ll find another comfortable race for her.”
A half-sister to Group 1 ATC Royal Randwick Guineas winner Kementari (Lonhro) and Listed ATC Lonhro Plate winner Telperion (Street Cry), Silmarillion is the third stakes-winner for Godolphin’s blue-hen Yavanna.
The daughter of Redoute’s Choice is also the dam of stakes-placegetters Valaquenta (Street Boss) and Palurien (Reset).
Yavanna’s dam, the dual Group III winner Wild Queen (Loup Sauvage), was purchased by Darley as a yearling for $260,000.
Wild Queen is a half-sister to Group II VRC Edward Manifold Stakes, Group II Ascot Vale Stakes winner So Gorgeous (Brief Truce), and Group III winner Cumbria (Lake Coniston).
From the renowned Denise’s Joy family, Yavanna has a yearling filly by Pinatubo and visited Too Darn Hot (IRE) last spring.
The reigning Champion First Season Stallion, Too Darn Hot (GB), remained at Dalham Hall Stud this year after four seasons of shuttling.
Silmarillion becomes the 13th stakes-winner worldwide for the son of Dubawi and the second in Australia after Group 1 ATC Champagne Stakes and Group 1 BRC JJ Atkins Stakes hero Broadsiding.
