Pint-Sized Pasadena Girl Uncorks Champagne
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Pasadena Girl added a third stakes win to her four-race career April 18 at Royal Randwick when flashing down the outside late in the Moet & Chandon Champagne Stakes (Aus-I) for 2-year-olds.
The diminutive Savabeel filly, the smallest horse in the field of nine, lurked off the early pace and uncoiled a rally when set alight by Hugh Bowman, earning a half-length win from Street Rapper, with Tarquin a length back in third.
Pasadena Girl was timed in 1:38.03 as the favorite for the 1,600 meters on soft turf.
The Barrister set out in determined fashion, attempting to lead all the way, with Takedown, Street Rapper, and Odyssey Moon close behind while Pasadena Girl relaxed in the background.
In the straight, Takedown and Street Rapper settled down to fight it out, but when Bowman called on his filly, she was much the best in an impressive win.
"She's a little gem... earmarked for big things as a 3-year-old," winning trainer Peter Moody said.
Pasadena Girl won her career debut in the Talindert Stakes Feb. 21 and followed with a victory in the TBV Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes (Aus-III) March 14, both at Flemington. Fourth to Pride Of Dubai in the Inglis Sires (Aus-I) she rebounded with aplomb in the Champagne.
Campaigned by a syndicate, Pasadena Girl was bred in New Zealand by Mrs. H. G. Bax and W. G. Bax. Her dam is the winning Redoute's Choice mare Nine From Pasadena, who is from the family of European highweight and U.S. grade II winner Stagecraft.
Moody bought Pasadena Girl for just Aus$25,000 from Eliza Park International, agent, at the 2014 Inglis premier yearling sale.
"When I purchased her, I probably expected her to be going to the races this time next year, so she has surprised us," said Moody. "She's got an unbelievable attitude towards racing. She is a Flight Stakes or a Thousand Guineas (both Aus-I) filly, but she continues to surprise, so anything is possible."