Stratum Filly Sizzles on Debut

Voted the Breednet Favourite Foal of 2011, Stratum filly Echo Gal is Magic Millions bound after posting a sizzling debut win at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.

Prepared for her first up tilt with a blistering trial win last month, the Gai Waterhouse trained Echo Gal was sent out a red hot favourite and delivered the goods in dashing away to win by three and three-quarter lengths in a brisk 57.58 seconds for the 1000 metres.

“Gai’s (Waterhouse) a master with the two-year-olds. You see it year in and year out and this one shows all the professionalism you want to see for a juvenile heading towards the big races,” said winning rider Tommy Berry, who won the Magic Millions for Waterhouse aboard Driefontein in 2012.

Stable representative Mark Newnham was on course and said the stylish bay daughter of Stratum is likely to follow the same path as Driefontein.

“She’ll probably go to the (Group III) BJ McLachlan Stakes in late (28th) December,” he said.

“Driefontein went to that race before enjoying success in the Magic Millions.

“She’s a nice horse this one. We were confident she could get the job done today.”

The first foal of stakes-placed Encosta de Lago mare Pink Siris, Echo Gal was consigned to the 2013 Magic Millions by Newgate Farm and purchased by Star Thoroughbreds for $145,000.

Interestingly she was bred at Ascot Park on the outskirts of Sydney by Bob Hannon, who also bred and sold this year’s Cox Plate hero Shamus Award.

When interviewed after the Cox Plate about the thrill of breeding Shamus Award, Mr Hannon confessed to dreaming of actually breeding the winner of another great race.

“You wait all your life for something like this. I’d always dreamed about breeding a Golden Slipper winner,” he said.

“I though the Cox Plate was out of my league, but there you go… We’ll breed a Slipper winner next time!”

Mr Hannon’s dream of breeding a Golden Slipper winner might be closer to reality than he thinks!

Stratum made it a metropolitan double when Prince Stratum scored at Caulfield by more than three lengths for the Robert Smerdon stable.

A $25,000 Inglis Classic purchase for Manaroa Bloodstock from the Widden Stud draft, Prince Stratum has never finished further back than fourth in 11 starts, winning twice and earning more than $62,000 in prizemoney.

Bred by Teeley Assets, Prince Stratum is the third winner for Princess Ruhie, who comes from the family of stakes-winner Roadagain.