Eneeza (AUS)
Eneeza (AUS)
2 f Exceed And Excel – Sweet Sherry by Bel Esprit
O: Kia Ora Stud (Mgr: A Krishnan) and TFI (Mgr: Miss S Williams)
B: Grant Bloodstock
T: Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman
S: Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale V: Silverdale Farm P: Kia Ora Stud Pty Ltd/TFI, $1.1 million
W: Merson Cooper Stakes, Listed, 1000m, Caulfield, December 2
Having finished second on debut in the Ottawa Stakes (Gr 3, 1000m) at Flemington last month, the Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained Eneeza (Exceed And Excel) produced an impressive performance to win Saturday’s Merson Cooper Stakes (Listed, 1000m) at Caulfield.
Eneeza jumped from gate six of nine for Damian Lane, who was content to sit four wide without cover on the well-backed $2.40 favourite in the one-bend scamper.
Hitting the lead soon after straightening, the filly came away full of running to win by a little over two lengths from the Patrick Payne-trained Flattered (Yes Yes Yes), with Express Yo’self (Alabama Express) third.
Moody said Eneeza was not certain to be targeted towards the $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic (RL, 1200m) at the Gold Coast on January 13, as he has her in mind as possibly his main Blue Diamond Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) filly.
“They run a couple of nice two-year-olds races in February,” he said.
“She is a Magic Millions filly. They (her owners) paid a million for her, so they are going to have their say, which I respect, but more importantly, they are open-minded to let the horse guide us along too.
“I wouldn’t think she is the type of filly that would be able to go to Millions and then into the autumn because she is not a big filly. Probably a decision has got to be made on what path.”
Bred by Silverdale Farm and bought by Kia Ora Stud and Tony Fung Investments for $1.1 million this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Eneeza is the second foal out of the ten-year-old Sweet Sherry, the former Brent Stanley-trained sprinter who won the 2017 SAJC Euclase Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) and two Listed races. Those included Flemington’s Maribyrnong Trial Stakes (Listed, 1000m).
In winning last Saturday’s Listed contest, Eneeza became the 214th stakes winner and 88th individual black type-winning juvenile for Exceed And Excel (Danehill), who has had 2543 starters to date, and stands at Darley’s Kelvinside base for a fee of $132,000 (inc GST).