Loving Gaby’s first foal lands trial
Just Like Gaby (Pierata), the first foal out of dual Group 1 winner Loving Gaby (I Am Invincible), produced a markedly better performance to land a 811-metre trial at Warwick Farm on Monday.
Trained by Ciaron Maher, who handled the career of her famous mother, the daughter of Yulong’s first-season sire Pierata (Pierro) finished a disappointing tenth on her first public appearance in a 789-metre trial at the same track on June 17. However, she looked more professional this time round, finishing 1.3 lengths ahead of Pinito (Trapeze Artist).
Raced by Phoenix Thoroughbred, the same ownership as Loving Gaby’s, the filly was bought by her trainer and Kevin Kelly for $800,000 from the Segenhoe Stud draft at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in 2023.
Maher enjoyed two other juvenile winners at the trials on Monday with the Go Bloodstock-bred Sensational Wind, an unraced daughter of I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit), producing an eye-catching display to land her 814-metre heat.
Last seen finishing fourth in a 786-metre trial last month, the two-year-old looked professional throughout on Monday to finish 0.8 lengths ahead of Annabel Neasham’s twice-raced Sugarfire (Hellbent).
Out of Australian Oaks (Gr 1, 2400m) winner Gust Of Wind (Darci Brahma), Sensational Wind was also offered by Segenhoe Stud and was bought by Katsumi Yoshida for $1.1 million at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale in 2023.
Sensational Wind’s stablemate Qatars Choice, another filly by I Am Invincible, won the next heat of the morning when she defeated the Mitchell Beer-trained Lightly Sparkled (Headwater) by 0.1 lengths.
Another Inglis Australian graduate, Qatars Choice was purchased by her trainer and David Redvers bloodstock from the Arrowfield Stud draft for $950,000 last year.
The filly is out of Vinery Stud Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) winner Fenway (High Chaparral), making her a half-sister to Group 3 scorer Williamsburg (Snitzel). Further back this is the same family as Group 1 winners Tuesday Joy (Carnegie), Sunday Joy (Sunday Silence) and More Joyous (More Than Ready).
Later on in the morning, Pierata was provided his second trial winner when his son Imposing Pier defeated Silencio Porfavor (Yes Yes Yes) by 0.2 lengths in his 807-metre heat.
Trained by Annabel Neasham, the colt showed ability when finishing second in his first public appearance on June 17 and he looked every inch the professional on Monday.
Imposing Pier was pinhooked for $110,000 by Stonehouse Thoroughbreds and Harrison Badger from the Segenhoe consignment at the Magic Millions Gold Coast National Weanling Sale in 2022, before being bought by his trainer for $120,000 at the Magic Millions sale on the Gold Coast in January.
The colt is out of winning mare Breannon (Charge Forward), a half-sister to dual Group 3 winner Najoom (Northern Meteor), the dam of dual Group 3 winner Charm Stone (I Am Invincible) and two-time stakes scorer Najmaty (I Am Invincible).
Additional juvenile heat winners were the once-raced Gary Portelli-trained Houdini Spirit (Harry Angel) and Chidgey (Capitalist), who is trained by Robert Quinn.