The Factor Breaks The Ice

Mark Smith - Saturday May 25

Former Newgate Farm shuttler The Factor (USA) broke his stakes duck in Australia when the Bjorn Baker-trained Fun Fact led at every call in Saturday's Group III Grand Prix Stakes (2200m) at Eagle Farm.

Fresh off a win in a benchmark 68 at Warwick Farm, Fun Fact was rated to perfection by Michael Cahill to defeat the Redoute's Choice filly Angel Of Heaven by a length with the High Chaparral (IRE) gelding Home Made a short-neck back in third.

"I thought he might've been going a bit keen and halfway down the straight I thought we were in trouble and we haven't had much luck with him this preparation," Baker said.

"Big shout out to Craig Tognolini, he's been the best bloodstock agent I've ever found, he's a part-owner of this horse and Redouble running later on.

Advertisement

"It's been a good syndicate, they have been patient and it hasn't worked out to well until the last two runs.

"He's bred to get the trip even though he is by The Factor (USA) but the main aim was to qualify him for the Magic Millions staying race next January and we've got the (Queensland) derby to look forward to."

Originally trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, Fun Fact advances his record to 5 wins, 1 second and 3 thirds from 19 starts with earnings of $224,455.


Consigned by Edinburgh Park to the 2017 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Fun Fact (pictured as a yearling ) was knocked down to Spendthrift Farm for $240,000, which made him the most expensive yearling by his sire in Australia.

He is the second foal and second winner out of the Listed Canberra Cup winner Fill The Page (Dane Shadow) who was a $12,000 Scone Yearling that was purchased by Edinburgh Park for $26,000 out of the Bendaree Park draft at the 2013 Inglis Easter Broodmare Sale.

Fill The Page has a weanling colt by So You Think and was covered by Merchant Navy last spring.

Fun Fact becomes the 16th stakes-winner world-wide for The Factor (War Front) who spent four seasons at Newgate (2014-17) before being exported to Japan last year.


Advertisment
More Reading...
First Australian Winner for The Factor
Newgate Farm’s dashing grey shuttler The Factor (USA) opened his account in Australia on Friday with a stylish last to first win at Canberra for promising two year-old The Unknown Factor.
D’Argento Filly Wins $100,000 Inglis Xtra Bonus
Stakes-placed at two and fourth in the Group II ATC Percy Sykes Stakes to Tempted, it seems amazing that D’Argento filly Sequista was not a winner until Thursday, but she picked a good day to break the ice claiming a $100,000 Inglis Xtra bonus for her Gosford victory.
Quality Tasmanian Yearling Catalogue Now Online
The auction renowned for producing world class racehorses at value prices is ready to do it all again following today's online release of the 2026 Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale catalogue.
Chaldean Foals Popular at Tattersalls December
The first Northern Hemisphere bred foals by Cambridge Stud shuttler Chaldean (GB) were in keen demand at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale with a cracking filly leading the way when she changed hands for 240,000gns.
Debut Winner Brings a Newgate Magic Update
Staking a claim for the $2million Inglis Millennium at Warwick Farm on February 9 was the John Sargent trained filly My Fire Phoenix, who scored a stylish debut victory at Canterbury on Friday night.
From Kingston Town to Northerly - A Race Named for Champions
With the end of 2025 fast approaching it’s time to turn our attention to the final G1 race of the Australian racing year, and the last of the “big three” at the Ascot Pinnacles carnival - It is of course, the $1.5 million Northerly Stakes run over 1800m at WFA, and this year marks its 50th running.
One To Watch - Randwick-Kensignton
Primed to make his debut off the back of six barrier trials, the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained Flying Artie colt Lancelot Du Lac impressed onlookers at his first race start, with the half-brother to Group 1 Golden Slipper winner Lady Of Camelot pulling clear to score by just shy of two and a half lengths.
Fun Winner for Spendthrift
Newgate Farm’s flashy grey shuttler The Factor (USA) is not coming to the Hunter Valley this spring, but he did feature at Sandown on Wednesday with an impressive winner carrying the Spendthrift Australia colours.
Headline Acts at a Bigger 2026 Inglis Easter
Countless headline acts are scheduled to take their place at next year’s Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, for which the catalogue is nearing its final stages of completion.
Shares in Group One Stars Highlight MM Digital Sale
Shares in three Group winning stars with major Summer and Autumn Carnival targets headline the catalogue for the latest Magic Millions Digital Sale which is now open for bidding.