Juvenile Debut Winner for Northern Meteor

The most expensive colt from the final crop of foals sired by ill-fated Northern Meteor, Pray to the Sky made a winning debut at Hawkesbury on Tuesday.

The Gai Waterhouse trained Pray to the Sky did on raceday what he had done at the trials, leading throughout to win the 1000 metre maiden by three-quarters of a length as favourite.

A $575,000 Magic Millions purchase from the Attunga Stud draft for Japanese owner Tomohiro Sekiguchi, Pray to the Sky is the second foal of Sophielicious, a three-quarter sister-in-blood to Group II winner Prisoner of Love from the family of Group I ATC Spring Champion stakes winner Vanbrugh.

Interestingly, the most expensive filly from Northern Meteor’s last crop is also a winner with Quick Feet( $540,000 Inglis Easter), claiming Black Type last Saturday when second in the Group II ATC Reisling Stakes.

A Group I winning son of Encosta de Lago, Northern Meteor had just four crops of foals all at a fee of $33,000 for Widden Stud before his premature death in 2013.

His statistics to date make for impressive reading, nearly 67% winners to runners, 4.8% stakes-winners to foals and 6.8% stakes-winners to runners.

His 19 stakes-winners headed by an impressive six Group I winners – Zoustar, Cosmic Endeavour, Shooting to Win, Speak Fondly, Amanpour and Romantic Touch.

There is little doubt that had he lived, Northern Meteor would have been a champion sire in the mould of his own sire Encosta de Lago, whose statistics are remarkably similar to that of his star son.

Pensioned from active duty in 2014, Encosta de Lago runs at 69% winners to runners, 5.8% stakes-winners to foals and 6.9% stakes-winners to runners.

Northern Meteor already has five sons at stud to continue his line and his daughters will be sought after as highly desirable broodmare prospects in the future.