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Portland Sky wins Anchor Stakes
Newgate’s third season sire Deep Field (Northern Meteor) sired his sixth stakes winner on Saturday as Portland Sky (3 c ex Sky Rumba by Shrewd Rhythm) landed the Red Anchor Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) at Moonee Valley.
Last seen running fourth in the Poseidon Stakes (Listed, 1100m), the Matt Laurie-trained three-year-old colt finished with a flourish to beat Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai) by three-quarters of a length, while Valaquenta (Street Boss) was another length away in third.
Despite the colt winning on the rain-affected Moonee Valley, Laurie said he is still not convinced the going brings out the best in the colt.
"I felt like he's a group horse and we're going to strike a wet track at some point,” said Laurie. “I still don't think he handles it, to be honest, but very pleased obviously to get the win.
"From day dot, even breaking him in he just always felt like a quality horse and throughout this preparation he's continued to improve. I think he's going to keep doing that. We've got a really nice horse."
Portland Sky does not hold a nomination for next weekend’s Coolmore Stud Stakes (registered as Ascot Vale Stakes) (Gr 1, 1200m), but Laurie was not ruling him out of a run in the Group 1.
"We're not nominated so we'll see how he pulls up,” said Laurie. “Very mindful that it is his first preparation and we want to be looking after him. It may not be the right thing but if he was jumping out of his skin, you never know."
Purchased by his trainer for $85,000 at the Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale from the Alwyn Park Stud draft, the colt is the only winner out of placed mare Sky Rumba (Shrewd Rhythm), who is herself a half-sister to Listed winner London Line (Blackfriars).
The Anita Vale Stud-bred colt’s third dam is stakes-placed Sweepshot (Dr Grace) - the dam of dual Group 1 winner Scenic Shot (Scenic).
In 2019 Sky Rumba produced a filly by Sessions (Lonhro), before foaling a colt by Universal Ruler (Scenic) this season.
Deep Field was responsible for the top lot at the Inglis Ready2Race Sale earlier in the week when the Macau Jockey Club and Louis Ho paid Lime Country Thoroughbreds, who were offering the colt on behalf of New Zealand-based Regal Farm, $610,000 for the colt. Deep Field stands at Newgate Farm for a fee of $55,000 (inc GST).
