Taormina (AUS)
Taormina (AUS)
2 f Written Tycoon – Infra Dig by Exceed And Excel
O: Mr F W Cook, GW Holdings, Mr R N Norris, Mr R Cattle, Mrs C M Cook, Ms B L Cook, Mr T Needham, Mr S Bacon, Mr D R Fleming, Gee Racing, Just Fun Racing, Mrs S C Murdoch, Sheffield Racing, Silvertail, Mr M J Murdoch
B: Newhaven Park Stud
T: Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott
S: 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale V: Newhaven Park P: Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott/Kestrel Thoroughbreds, $450,000
W: Furphy Handicap, 1200m, June 28, Warwick Farm
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Taormina (Written Tycoon) laid down a marker for her upcoming three-year-old campaign with an impressive debut success at Warwick Farm on Wednesday, claiming some regally bred scalps in the process.
Showing good early speed to lead under Tim Clark in the maiden two-year-old fillies handicap, Taormina unleashed an eye-catching turn of foot in the straight to stretch three lengths clear with 100 metres to run, before holding off a late challenge from Arctic Glamour (Frosted) to win by a comfortable three-quarters of a length on the Soft 6 surface.
The remaining field, which trailed more than three lengths behind the winner, included the third-placed I Am Famous (I Am Invincible), a $2 million half-sister to Everest (1200m) winner Classique Legend (Not A Single Doubt), and Waterski (Street Boss), a three-quarter sister to dual Group 1 winner Trekking (Street Cry), who finished fifth.
Taormina showed early signs of promise at the trials, finishing third behind stablemate Sicilian (I Am Invincible) and Group 2 winner Learning To Fly (Justify) in the early season official trial session at Randwick.
Her performance on Wednesday was enough to suggest to co-trainer Bott the filly will be at the forefront of the leading three-year-old contests in the spring.
“She has taken a little bit of time but good to see her put in a strong performance like that and back up the early ability she’d shown,” Bott said.
“I think we can aim up with her. I do think she’s a quality type and capable of getting to a better level. Whether we look to give her another run to condition her over the winter, we’ll monitor to see what races are coming up. If not, we may just look to keep her freshened up and look for some of those early spring targets. It comes around pretty quickly.”
Taormina was a $450,000 buy for her trainers and Bruce Slade of Kestrel Thoroughbreds from the draft of her breeders Newhaven Park Stud at last year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
She is the third foal out of the Darley bred three-time winner Infra Dig (Exceed And Excel), whose two previous foals are both winners.
The filly derives from the family of the Gai Waterhouse-trained dual Group 1 winner English (Encosta De Lago), who is a granddaughter of Taormina’s third dam Splish (Zeditave).