The Group 3 WATC Champion Fillies Stakes was won in brilliant fashion by the 50/1 outsider EIGHT TILL LATE on Saturday (12 November).
Trained by Shane Edwards and ridden by Perth’s top jockey Paul Harvey, the daughter of Lonhro looked to have little hope when she stumbled out of the barriers, lengths behind her rivals at the back of the field turning for home. But the daughter of Lonhro then produced an incredible turn of foot and under the urgings of Harvey she thundered home to win brilliantly. The performance, while shocking many punters, didn’t really surprise her trainer Shane Edwards who predicted a big run, knowing that his charge was blessed with above average ability.
Her victory continued an incredible run of success for weanlings purchased by Belmont Bloodstock Agency at the 2009 Magic Millions National Weanling in Perth. EIGHT TILL LATE joined exciting RON’S CALL and SINGLE SPICE as stakeswinners purchased as weanlings, an incredible result. EIGHT TILL LATE was a $45,000 weaner, RON’S CALL $36,000 and SINGLE SPICE $20,000.
Shane Edwards said EIGHT TILL LATE had always shown him a ton of ability and feels she will get better over ground. She has had six weeks between runs so it was a great training performance by Edwards to have EIGHT TILL LATE at her peak for a Group race over 1600m.
The filly now becomes Lonhro’s 32nd individual stakeswinner. The Darley owned superstar racehorse has become a champion sire and for the first time will shuttle to America at the end of the year.
EIGHT TILL LATE was offered by Glastonbury Farm and is out of the Redoute’s Choice mare Future Choice. In an interesting twist, Future Choice was purchased at a Inglis broodmare sale in 2006 by Glastonbury and clients as a maiden mare for $40,000 by Belmont Bloodstock Agency. To then follow up and buy her 2008 Lonhro filly as a weanling makes the result even more satisfying.
