Widden Graduates Warm Up for Spring

Widden graduates might not have won a stakes race on Saturday, but they weren’t far away with encouraging performances from Driefontein, Planet Voyage and Ephemera.

Magic Millions heroine Driefontein looks set for another good campaign after splitting Snitzerland and All Too Hard to finish a good second in the Group III ATC San Domenico Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday.

The Gai Waterhouse trained daughter of Fastnet Rock was a $75,000 purchase for Star Thoroughbreds from the Widden draft at the 2011 Magic Millions.

Exceed and Excel gelding Planet Voyage tasted his first Black Type when finishing second to Psychic Mick in the Listed MRC Vain Stakes at Caulfield.

The Peter Moody trained Planet Voyage has been very consistent over the winter and was a $190,000 Magic Millions purchase from the same draft as Driefontein.

Easy wins in lesser grade for well-bred More Than Ready (USA) filly Ephemera prompted Peter Moody to give her a shot at stakes company at Caulfield on Saturday, the decision rewarded when she ran boldly for third to Elite Elle in the Listed MRC Quezette Stakes with Blue Diamond winner Samaready in fourth place.

A $525,000 Inglis Easter purchase for Waratah Thoroughbreds from the Widden draft, Ephemera looks to have a very bright future.