3 minute read
Hands his sire Not A Single Doubt his 12th Group 1 winner.
After Not A Single Doubt's (Redoute's Choice) stallion career came to a premature end earlier in the year, his son Farnan (2 c ex Tallow by Street Cry) looks an ideal candidate to continue his growing legacy on the breed as he outclassed his rivals in the Golden Slipper Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
The 12th Group 1 winner for his sire, Farnan skipped out of the barriers and was settled in the lead by jockey Hugh Bowman. As the field began to go pursue him, the colt seemed to find another gear to come away with length and three quarter victory over Away Game (Snitzel) - who ran another ultra consistent race to finish second.
The victory handed Gai Waterhouse with her seventh Slipper winning - moving her one clear of her famous father Tommy Smith. However, it was her co-trainer Adrian Bott's first win in the coveted race and he expressed his gratitude to Waterhouse, who was not at the track and watched the race from the Southern Highlands.
"What a thrill, I'm very honoured and very humble to do it alongside a legend," Bott said.
"For her to have six Golden Slippers, and now seven, and to do it with her, and with a colt with such quality, it's really special for all involved. She makes it easy because she just expects you to win.
"She's as confident as ever. Maybe I worry a little bit more, but she's always been confident and it is comforting to have that person alongside you who has been there and done it before so many times. Even down to the tactics, being dominant from that draw, was never a worry.
"He showed that tactical speed that he has always had and was able to control the race."
Bowman, who was winning the race for the first time, said: "I'm lost for words to be honest.
"I'd just like to congratulate Gai and Adrian and their team for the preparation to develop this horse to behave and race the way he did this afternoon was second to none.
"I've been lucky enough to ride some really good horses over my career as everyone knows but I haven't ridden a better two-year-old.
"Just his mannerisms and his professionalism that is one thing but his ability is another.
"Sydney has been my home since I started riding and this is the signature race for me growing up and to win it - I'm just lost for words and so proud and thankful to connections to instil the trust in me to do the job.
"I was forever disappointed with myself on Meurice who Gai trained in 2007 when I was doing the bulk of her riding so to get the opportunity to repay her and it's great," he said.
Farnan is out of the 2010 Vanity Stakes (Gr 3, 1400m) winner Tallow (Street Cry) who has produced two other winners to date in Listed winner Sandbar (Snitzel) and the winning filly Summer Surf (Big Brown).
His second dam is the five-time winner African Queen (Lion Hunter) who produced six winners which, in addition to Tallow, include the Group 3-placed Mr Light Blue (Fantastic Light). Further back this is the family of Listed winners Petite Dane (Danehill), Danish Silver (Silvano), Mr Unforgettable (Rubiton) and Beauty School (Royal Academy).
Phoenix Thoroughbreds bought Tallow through agent David Lucas for $250,000 from the draft of Strawberry Hill stud at the 2017 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale carrying Farnan.
Farnan is the sixth foal out of Tallow who, after producing the colt, then missed in 2017 and 2017. She was covered by Not A Single Doubt's barnmate The Autumn Sun (Redoute's Choice) last October.
Street Cry's daughters have now sired ten Group / Grade 1 winners with Skitter Scatter (Scat Daddy) and Lyre (Lonhro) also winning at the highest level as two-year-olds. The former Darley shuttler stood in Australia for nine seasons between 2003 and 2013.
The colt joins Ha Ha (Danehill) (2001); Dance Hero (Danzero) (2004); Sebring (More Than Ready) (2008); Pierro (Lonhro) (2012); Overreach (Exceed And Excel) (2013); Vancouver (Medaglia d'Oro) (2015) as Waterhouse's other Slipper winners.
