Trainer Gai Waterhouse has revealed that exciting filly Festivity is a chance of contesting the 2014 BRC Sires Produce Stakes at Doomben next weekend after breaking her maiden with a win in the Drummond Golf Plate (1250m) at Canterbury yesterday.
Jim Cassidy won the 2013 edition of the BRC Sires Produce Stakes with Zoustar and could partner Festivity in this year's race. Photo by: Daniel Costello
Festivity jumped from the gates well and was positioned just behind the leader Berimbeau by jockey Jimmy Cassidy in the early stages of the race.
The Nicconi filly joined Berimbeau in the lead at the 200 metre mark and ran away from the rest of the field to record a comfortable two lengths victory from Darley-owned Berimbeau and a fast-finishing Berry Delicious.
Waterhouse told TVN after the race that she was happy with the performance of Festivity and believes that the two-year-old would be more than competitive in the BRC Sires Produce Stakes at Doomben on May 24, if she opts to take the filly to Queensland for a 2014 Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival campaign.
“She is a very exciting filly, she is by Nicconi,” Waterhouse said.
“It was really nice today when she was able to break through and she looked a picture here walking around the yard.
“She has done everything right and she has a very bright future in front of her.
“We may win a Saturday race here first (before heading to Queensland); I’ll just wait and see, but she is a really lovely filly.”
Festivity made her racing debut with a disappointing 11th place finish behind Alpha Miss in the Listed Gimcrack Stakes (1000m) at Royal Randwick on October 5 and put the writing on the wall for her maiden win by taking out a barrier trial at Royal Randwick on April 22.
The other two-year-old event on the Canterbury card yesterday was taking out by Ron Quinton-trained I Am Impressed, who scored an upset win over the well-backed Chris Waller duo Country Warrior and Duty First.
Duty First and Country Warrior looked as though they were going to fight out the finish when they kicked clear from the rest of the field at the 200 metre mark, but were run down in the shadows of the post by I Am Impressed, who showed a strong turn-of-foot in the final stages of the race.
Quinton said that he does not have any immediate plans with I Am Impressed, but said that he was thrilled with the impressive effort.
