We Have Lift Off (AUS)
O: Dynamic Syndications Racing (MGR: D W WATT), P Yesberg, R S Anderton, Mrs A T Woollett, S Koukoulas, C J Mcneill, G A Hodges, G S Cormick, M J Hembury, B J Hails, S A Hails, D A Poletto, M R Smith, G M Oleksinski, A Vella, J P Keeley, D C Batchelor & C Charalambous
T: Brad Widdup
B: Segenhoe Thoroughbreds Australia Pty Ltd
S: Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale V: Segenhoe Stud Australia Pty Ltd P: Dynamic Syndications/Gai Waterhouse $170,000
W: Pluck @ Vinery Maiden Plate, 1100m, Canterbury, 20 December
The promising three-year-old filly We Have Lift Off scored a good first up win on her first outing for Hawkesbury-based trainer Brad Widdup at Canterbury on Wednesday.
Having only her second race start, the former Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained mare was smartly away from barrier four under Christian Reith and soon crossed to the front.
She travelled strongly throughout, dashed clear at the 200 metres and went on to score quite comfortably by three quarters of a length with a really promising effort in a time of 1:05.37 on the Good 4 track.
A $170,000 purchase at the 2016 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, We Have Lift Off is one of two named foals out of the stakes placegetter Houston Benefactor (Encosta De Lago), who is herself a sister to the 2015 Bill Stutt Stakes (Gr 2, 1600m) winner Sovereign Nation.
Houston Benefactor is also a three-quarter sister to multiple Group One-winning mare Princess Coup (Encosta De Lago), who went on to produce the John Size-trained Group Three-winning sprinter Thewizardofoz (Redoute’s Choice).
We Have Lift Off’s third dam is the multiple stakes winner Stoneyfell Road (Sovereign Red), while this is also the same family as Group Three winner Arch Duchess (Arch Sculptor) and Triscay Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) placegetter Recoinage (Flying Spur).