Sizzling Debut Win for Zoffany Colt

Astute trainer Mick Kent produced an exciting debut winner at Flemington on Saturday with Southerly Wind (2c Zoffany x Folichonne, by Denon) showing a stylish turn of foot to dash away and win by three lengths.

Sent out favourite, Southerly Wind was well rated by Jake Bayliss to travel sweetly on the pace up the straight before accelerating smartly to drop his rivals cold in the 1100 metre sprint with promising colt So Si Bon (2c So You Think x Black Minx, by Lonhro) running home well for second.

“He’s definitely above average,” said Bayliss.

“I was happy just to sit on him and wait for the 200m to give him a squeeze and then he put them away very easily.”

His trainer Mick Kent was well pleased with the performance which lived up to expectation.

“He trialled well and is a natural runner,” he said.

“He’s very much a speed horse, so we’ll give him another run and then think about the future.”

Southerly Wind is the first winner for Folichonne, a minor winner by Denon from the family of Group winners Mic Mac and Chateau Fort.

Southerly Wind is the fifth Australian bred winner for Group I winning Dansili son Zoffany, who was the Champion First Crop Sire in Europe last year.

Zoffany was extremely popular at Coolmore Australia last spring covering 213 mares at a fee of $8,800, but is not returning to Australia this year.