Learning To Fly (AUS)

2 f Justify – Ennis Hill by Fastnet Rock

O: Coolmore, Westerberg, Kia Ora Stud W S, J Poulin

B: Katom

T: Annabel Neasham

S: 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale V: Coolmore Stud P: Kia Ora Stud Pty Ltd, $900,000

W: Widden Stakes, Group 3, 1100m, January 28, Rosehill

The Annabel Neasham-trained Learning To Fly (Justify) laid down a firm marker for next month’s Golden Slipper Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) as she produced a dominant winning performance in last Saturday’s Widden Stakes (Gr 3, 1100m) at Rosehill.

Having made three promising trials, including a winning one at Warwick Farm prior to this debut success, the juvenile filly was sent forward early in the contest by jockey Chad Schofield and forged into the lead at the 300-metre marker, digging deep when challenged to beat Steel City (Merchant Navy) by half-a-length in a quicker time than was recorded by the colts in the Canonbury Stakes (Gr 3, 1100m) earlier on the card.

“I am excited and relieved at the same time. She was brilliant,” Neasham said. “She floated in front, and I thought the other horse was going to get her, but she dug deep first up.

“To do that, she showed a lot more early speed than I expected. Chad did a great job of getting her in that spot. She is very exciting.

“We’ve always had a really good opinion of her, but you never know quite how good they are until you see them come and do it in the afternoon.

“We think she is quite special. To do it in the Coolmore colours is very exciting, and Kia Ora as well an important ownership group. Grateful for their support with such a valuable filly.

“She is an Inglis horse, so we could go to the Millennium in a fortnight. Obviously, the Golden Slipper is the real aim, but that will be her Grand Final. We’ll get her home; see how she is and talk to the team.”

Purchased by Kia Ora Stud for $900,000 out of the Coolmore Stud draft, who retained an interest in the filly, at last year’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Learning to Fly is the second foal out of the Chairman’s Stakes (Gr 3, 1100m)-winning Fastnet Rock (Danehill) mare Ennis Hill.

Named by bloodstock agent James Bester after the Olympic Games gold medal-winning British athlete Jessica Ennis-Hill, the mare is a sister to Crockett Stakes (Listed, 1200m) winner Lake Geneva, Inglis Nursery (Listed, 1000m) winner and current Coolmore stallion Acrobat, and the stakes-placed Memphis Rock.

Ennis Hill has a Pierro (Lonhro) filly in the Coolmore Stud draft at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, catalogued as Lot 117. After foaling an I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit) filly in October, Ennis Hill was covered by Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice).

Justify (Scat Daddy), who was provided with his first Australian stakes winner via Learning To Fly’s victory, shuttled to Australia for three seasons. The son of Scat Daddy (Johannesburg) has 12 catalogued for Easter, nine at the Inglis Classic, and 11 at the Inglis Premier.