Astern - New Winner

A three-quarter sister to the unbeaten juvenile Big Sky, one of the serious players for this month's $2 million Group One Blue Diamond Stakes, headlines the Magic Millions Digital Sale (6-11 February), which is now open for bidding.

Cambridge mare Nigella Lane was runner-up in last year’s Listed Clubs NZ Wairarapa Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) and she was able to go one better in this year’s edition at Tauherenikau on Waitangi Day.

The $2million Inglis Millennium (1100m) at Randwick this Saturday is for 2YO's that have come via the Inglis Sales and naturally the big stables have deployed some of their best juvenile firepower in pursuit of this big pot of cash.

Successful in the Group 3 Quezette Stakes two starts back, the Phillip Stokes trained Ferivia secured victory in the Group 2 MRC Thousand Guineas Prelude, becoming the second Group winner in the last 24 hours for the stable after the success of Snow Mercy overnight in the Group 3 Scarborough Stakes.

Four heats at Canterbury on Friday were won by juveniles and three were unraced youngsters including a $1million Snitzel colt, while G3 Gimcrack Stakes winner Shiki was also sent around following her midfield finish in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic last month.

Making just her third race day appearance, the Phillip Stokes trained Astern filly Ferivia made the step to black type racing with ease, winning $200,000 Group 3 MRC Quezette Stakes on Saturday at Caulfield.

Here is the full list of 48 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.

Tomodachi’s connections are banking on a target closer to home to bring out the best in the gifted mare on Saturday.

Tasmanian 2YO sensation Aristopolos ran as a short priced favourite in the $85,000 Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) in Hobart on Friday and the son of 2021 European Horse of the Year St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) kept his unbeaten record intact with scintillating victory.

Following two year old racing is a bit like watching little kids blowing bubbles at a birthday party!  A perfectly formed sphere appears, and oooh look! it's going higher than the others (squeals of excitement) and then oh -  it hit the clothesline.