Brilliant Return for Stratum Filly
Champion trainer Gai Waterhouse has a big opinion of exciting Stratum filly Flamboyant Lass and we saw why at Warwick Farm on Wednesday when she demolished a smart field of older horses to win as she pleased.
Having her first start since finishing down the track in the Group I MRC Blue Diamond Stakes won by Pride of Dubai, Flamboyant Lass led out wide and cruised clear under hands and heels to win the 1000 metre scamper by more than three lengths.
It was a sparkling return for a filly that is set to target races such as the Group I ATC Flight Stakes (1600m) at Randwick or the Group I MRC Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield.
“Absolutely too good, very hard for a three-year-old to win against the older mares,” Waterhouse said.
“This is a very exciting filly. A few of the owners said ‘why isn’t she starting on Saturday?’ and I said ‘that small fish are sweet’.
“She’s showing that she’s right up there. I want her to go to a nice Group Two and then the ultimate aim will be either the Thousand Guineas or the Flight Stakes.”
Flamboyant Lass was a $190,000 Magic Millions purchase for Gai Waterhouse/James Harron Bloodstock from the Highgrove Stud draft and has two wins and two placings from five starts with prizemoney just shy of $130,000.
She is the first winner for Flamboyance, a half-sister by Snowland to Group III winner Pasikatera from the family of Group I winner Tempest Morn.
Highgrove Stud sold the full brother to Flamboyant Lass at Inglis Easter this year with James Harron Bloodstock securing the Stratum colt for $620,000 making him the most expensive youngster by his sire sold this year.
Flamboyance was covered again by Stratum last year..
Flamboyant Lass was the second leg of a winning double at Warwick Farm for Stratum, who was successful earlier in the day with three year old filly Self Esteem.
Peter and Paul Snowden have attracted plenty of the best owners in the country since embarking on their training partnership with improving filly Self Esteem saluting for Debbie Kepitis’ Woppitt Bloodstock.
Not beaten far in three runs back from a spell this campaign, Self Esteem had fitness on her side in the Benchmark 64 event over 1600 metres and led throughout to break her maiden by a short neck.
A $170,000 Magic Millions purchase for Snowden Racing from the Riversdale Farm draft, Self Esteem was bred by Stratheden Stud and is the fifth winner from five to race from Zeditave mare Sounds Assertive, a three-quarter sister-in-blood to Group I winners Assertive Lad and Assertive Lass.