Cigar Flick
RACE: Blue Diamond Prelude (Gr 2, 1100m)
TRAINER: Chris Waller
Chris Waller will aim to win today’s Inglis Millennium (RL, 1100m) for the first time in its fifth year of staging when he sends the twice-raced filly Cigar Flick (Churchill) to the Randwick feature.
The juvenile daughter of Churchill (Galileo) was an impressive debut winner of an 1100-metre Canterbury maiden last month, readily scoring a one-and-a-half-length success under James McDonald, before a fourth-placed effort behind Learning To Fly (Justify) in the Widden Stakes (Gr 3, 1100m) at Rosehill a fortnight ago, beaten just under three lengths at the line, again for McDonald.
“She’s a stunning filly and everything she does, she does so easy. She just oozes quality,” McDonald said after Cigar Flick’s debut effort.
“She will be a beautiful three-year-old and will run a mile easily.”
A homebred for the Ingham family, Cigar Flick will now tackle a host of interesting rivals in today’s event, including last-start conqueror Learning To Fly, Arkansaw Kid (Harry Angel), Saltaire (Star Turn) and Perfect Proposal (Russian Revolution).
Foaled and raised at Coolmore Stud, Cigar Flick is the first foal out of Palmateer (Fastnet Rock), a metro-winning half-sister to Group 1 winner Fangirl (Sebring) out of the stakes winner Little Surfer Girl (Encosta De Lago).
Cigar Flick’s third dam is the three-time Group 1 winner Special Harmony (Spinning World), who won the VRC Oaks (Gr 1, 2500m), Thousand Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) and Arrowfield Stud Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) among ten victories.
Palmateer had a filly by Flying Artie (Artie Schiller) last year and was then covered by Street Boss (Street Cry).