Almost An Angel (AUS)
2 f So You Think – All That Sass by Hinchinbrook
O: Mr R D Griffiths, Mrs S G Griffiths, Mr M J Hymet, Resting Toucher, Skywood Racing, Mr F Tavolaro, Mr R D Hamilton, R W H Thoroughbreds, K N M Racing, Mrs L Monagle, Mr T J Morden, Irish Connection, Ms K A Spillane, Mrs J A Collins, Mr S Reddan, Mr G C Curran
B: Kitchwin Hills, Mr. D. Giesemann, Mr. P Mullen, NSW
T: Mr Robbie Griffiths (Cranbourne)
S: 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale V: Alma Vale Thoroughbreds P: Griffiths Racing/Peter Ford T/breds FBAA, $30,000
W: Sportsbet Race Previews Handicap, 1000m, Caulfield Heath, November 19
Robbie Griffiths’ juvenile filly Almost An Angel (So You Think) made a perfect start to her career when she won impressively over 1000 metres on debut at Caulfield Heath on Wednesday.
Ridden by Luke Nolen following two impressive trials, the daughter of late Coolmore sire So You Think (High Chaparral) settled at the back of the small field of six. She was still a good three lengths behind the leader Angelic Rise (Harry Angel) with 200 metres to go before unleashing a powerful late sprint to win by two lengths over Iconic Ruler (Wild Ruler).
“It’s no surprise at all because we’ve been trying to put her in the paddock all along. She’s a So You Think filly and you reckon they need time. I’m thinking to myself, ‘Why are we running her’? She’s just kept saying, ‘Let me run’,” Griffiths told Racing.com.
“She trialled well at Cranbourne against Luna Vega, who subsequently ran third in the Group 3 Maribyrnong Plate, then she trialled well again at Cranbourne. We thought we’d send her to the paddock then but she was bucking and squealing and feeling great.
“I told Luke [Nolen] to leave her be, as she has that So You Think blood to be strong at the end. If she wasn’t by So You Think, you would have been really bullish, thinking, ‘This is a ready-made two-year-old’.”
Assuming she comes through the run in good order, Griffiths is planning a quick jump to black-type company, likely in the Merson Cooper Stakes (Listed, 1000m) at Caulfield on November 29.
“She’s got a beautiful pedigree and if she can repeat the dose in 10 days’ time and get black type, she’s very valuable,” he said.
“She’s had a look at Caulfield now, so that’s in her favour. If we need more time, we can have a look at the Magic Millions Vic 2YO Classic at Caulfield later in December.” Beyond that, Almost An Angel could head to the Gold Coast for the Magic Millions 2YO Classic (RL, 1200m) on January 17. “She’s telling us that she’s up to a race like that,” Griffiths said.
“We wanted to see what we had seen in trackwork was fair dinkum. The way she has done that today, why not have a look at it.”
Almost An Angel is the first foal out of winning Hinchinbrook (Fastnet Rock) mare All That Sass, herself a half-sister to Listed placegetter Morioka (Maurice). Bred by Kitchwin Hills and partners, she was purchased for $30,000 at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale through Alma Vale Thoroughbreds, slightly more than her debut winner’s cheque of $27,500.
Her Farnan (Not A Single Doubt) half-sister is set to go through the ring via the North Bloodstock draft at the 2026 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, catalogued as Lot 39.