Bargain Filly Media Award Shocks in Australasian Oaks

Media Award, a plain bay filly that cost just AU$5,000 (US$3,520) as a yearling, delivered Geelong trainer Chris Calthorpe the first group 1 winner of his career in the Australasian Oaks (G1) at Morphettville May 1.

"This is history in the making; it's bigger than Neil Armstrong walking on the moon.

"It's unbelievable; she's a very special horse. I'm just over the moon," an ecstatic Calthorpe said after the fairy-tale result.

The bargain buy from the 2019 Inglis Melbourne Gold Yearling Sale was from the draft of Young-based Bowness Stud, and Media Award showed Calthorpe early on that she had the potential to rise to racing's elite level.

"I ran her at the Colac jump outs during COVID and she missed the start by 15 lengths, but she ran super sectionals and I said to the owners, 'I know it's hard to believe after that, but you have a very good racehorse here. Just don't worry about that result.'

"When she ran at Echuca and finished second, I told them, 'I know I like dreaming, but you have an Oaks filly here,'" he said.

Media Award has come a long way in a short time, having won only her maiden at Kyneton March 29 over 1,479 meters.

She followed that performance with another win against Benchmark 64-rated company at Geelong over 1,700 meters before arriving Saturday on the elite stage.

Media Award races for a group of owners that include members of the Lavington Panthers Football Club and was ridden by one of Calthorpe's dearest friends, Luke Nolen, whom he unashamedly hugged and kissed after the race.

It's been a long, hard road back into the group 1 winner's circle for Nolen, after the heady era when he regularly partnered champion mare Black Caviar .

"I'm not an outwardly emotional person usually, but after the post I gave out a little cheer.

"It was a very big moment in both of our careers. It's wonderful that you can ride someone's first group 1 winner. You never forget your first or your last, and that's in all facets of life.

"It was a very good effort (by Media Award). Chris had a lot of faith in her, and he was rewarded today," said Nolen.

Calthorpe shied away from committing to any grand future plans with the filly but did suggest that he and the ownership group have even bigger dreams to realize with her.

Media Award is out of the More Than Ready   mare Music Media, who was sold through the Yarraman Park Stud draft at the 2010 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale to Vin Cox Bloodstock for AU$110,000.

She went on to be trained by Gary Portelli and was the winner of only one race from 14 starts, a 1,200-meter maiden at Bathurst.

Media Award is the second individual group 1 winner for Rosemont Stud's Shamus Award. His other leading performer thus far is Channel 7 Queensland Derby and Lexus Toorak Handicap (both G1) winner Mr Quickie.

The Sportingbet W. S. Cox Plate winner (G1) currently stands for a fee of AU$19,800 (including GST), and Rosemont's Anthony Mithen said the filly's win was timely with the stud set to announce its stallion fees May 3 for the upcoming breeding season.

"We are so proud to stand a horse like Shamus Award here in Victoria. What an opportunity for VIC breeders. In the past 12 months he's had eight stakes winners, six at group level and two at group 1 level, only bettered in Victoria by Written Tycoon , who will stand at a considerably higher fee.

"He's easily one of the best young Victorian stallions, the best-ever son of Snitzel , and I think breeders will get a significant surprise when we announce our fees.

"We will be a 'first-in, best-dressed' basis and, given the action we've had on the booking front this weekend, we are expecting an avalanche of business this week," said Mithen.

Instant Celebrity Shines

In the other major feature at Morphettville May 1, the Phillip Stokes-trained Instant Celebrity realized her undoubted group 1 potential on home turf, defeating the older sprinting mares in the Tab Classic (G1).

At just her second run back from a spell, she was given a masterful ride by Craig Williams, who steered her home along the rails to win by a half-length over the Chris Waller-trained Subpoenaed and the fast-finishing Rubisaki, who was third, a length and a quarter behind the winner with a farther length to the rest.

Her astute trainer was delighted to see her live up to the high expectations that have been on her ever since she ran a luckless third in the Schweppes Thousand Guineas (G1) at Caulfield last spring.

"A great thrill and a great team effort. Craig Williams, what a ride. He never went around a horse," said Stokes.

The chestnut filly was bred by Trevor and Beth Robertson and raised on the renowned limestone country of leading South Australian Thoroughbred nursery Mill Park Stud.

After the race, jockey Craig Williams paid tribute to her well-respected South Australian breeders and owners, with whom he's enjoyed a long and successful association.

"I rode my first Caulfield Cup (G1) winner (Southern Speed) for Beth and Trevor.

"It's great to see her win her first group 1 at just her seventh start.

"She is going to be an exciting horse for years to come," said Williams.

The most eye-catching run of the race was produced by the Patrick Payne-trained mare Rubisaki. She showed she's returned to her best and flew home for third after being held up in the straight. She's now likely to go on to the BRC Sprint (G3) May 22.