G1 Guineas Goal for Vancouver Filly

It’s not easy to win a stakes race at just your third start, but exciting filly Night Raid (3f Vancouver x Raid, by Pins) did just that when taking out the Listed MVRC Atlantic Jewel Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday.

Prepared by Mick Price and Mick Kent Jr, Night Raid was a seven length maiden winner at Tatura on August 15 when resuming from a spell after finishing fourth on debut at Flemington on New Year’s Day.

In contrast to her maiden when she led all the way, this time Night Raid took a sit behind the leaders and when shown clear running charged to the line for Mark Zahra to win by a neck.

“She’s all class, all quality. You watch her in the yard and she lowers her head and has a beautiful walk, she walks like a panther,” said co-trainer Mick Kent Jr.

“It was a good deep field of fillies and she measured up, so hopefully we are looking at a Guineas campaign now.

“She can go to the Guineas Prelude in two weeks and then on to the big one. We are optimistic she has the scope to be a miler.”

A $160,000 Magic Millions purchase from the Three Bridges Thoroughbreds draft for Sheamus Mills Bstock (FBAA)/Mick Price Racing, Night Raid runs in the colours of Bill Frost’s Pendant Racing and has already won over $100,000 with two wins from three starts.

Bred by Three Bridges Thoroughbreds in partnership, Night Raid is a half-sister to stakes-placed Mujallad and Tarismo being the fifth winner from five foals to race from stakes-winning Pins mare Raid.

Bought for $380,000 from the Bell View Park draft at the 2016 Inglis Broodmare Sale by Paul Willetts Bloodstock Consultancy for Unencumbered Syndicate, Raid is a full sister to the dam of dual Group I winner Stratum Star and last season’s promising Group III winning colt Prague, the family tracing back to champion racemare Emancipation.

Night Raid is the second stakes-winner, but first in Australia for Golden Slipper winner Vancouver, who stands at Coolmore Australia at a fee of $30,250.