By Bren O'Brien
Million-dollar filly Southbank (Fastnet Rock) resumed with a comfortable win in a 1200m maiden at Mornington, taking the first step on what her connections hope can be a breakout campaign.
Purchased for $1.25 million at last year's Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Southbank had just the one start as a 2-year-old, finishing down the track in a Ballarat maiden in April, but off the back of a good recent trial was expected to improve significantly at her first start as a 3-year-old.
With a nomination for the G1 Thousand Guineas, it is clear the Anthony Freedman stable has an opinion which approximates the price that Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock paid for her on behalf of Jonathan Munz's Pinecliff Racing.
It proved a soft maiden victory as jockey Mark Zahra parked the filly in behind the early leader, before pushing her clear as she entered the short Mornington straight and surging her away to win by a length ahead of the debutante Stratessa (Starum) and the early leader Mosscon (Mossman).
"She's done a really good job. Mark gave her a great ride and it all worked out. It’s nice to come to a track just around the corner from our base and hopefully she can just build into her preparation," stable representative, Sam Freedman said.
"Mark gave her a great ride and it all worked out. It’s nice to come to a track just around the corner from our base and hopefully she can just build into her preparation." - Sam Freedman
"The acceleration was really what we were looking for. She's trialled really well this time in, but has not come off the bridle, so you like to see them go and do it and she's gone and done it, which is nice."
Freedman said that while Southbank did hold a feature race nomination, the plan for spring was far from set out.
Southbank as a yearling
"We just wanted to go and see her do it at the races this time in. Her owner Jonathan Munz is a great supporter of the stable and is always very patient with his fillies so we’ll just map a path with her, and if she measures up to some nice spring races, then great, if not she can have a nice prep in the autumn."
Southbank is out of Rezoned (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), the Group 3 winning full sister to champion stayer and four-time Group 1 winner Preferment (NZ). This filly's full brother was sold to Lindsay Park Racing for $400,000 at this year's Easter Sale and has been named Pulitzer Prize.
The extended pedigree also includes Group 2 winner Dances On Waves (Anabaa {USA}) and Group 1 winner Ancient Song (Canny Lad).
Pulitzer Prize, Southbank's full brother sold to Lindsay Park Racing at this year's Easter Sale
In the following race, another $1 million Fastnet Rock filly, Feelings, made her debut but could only finish fourth behind Wild Choice (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}), who was an impressive six-length winner for trainer Richard Laming.
The third race, a 1000m maiden, was taken out in an upset by Hidden Legend (Pluck {USA}). He was a $380,000 Classic Yearling Sale purchase for agent Tony Millard on behalf of Hong Kong-based Boniface Ho.
While he started $41 on debut, trainer John Sadler suggested Hidden Legend possessed plenty of talent and would likely be put away and reserved for something in the autumn.
