Brilliant filly Qafila scored a breakthrough success at racing’s elite level when she thumped the boys winning the Gr1 South Australian Derby (2500m) at Morphettville today.
The outstanding young galloper hit the front at the top of the straight and raced clear for a barnstorming three and a half length success.
Cory Parish celebrates his second G1 as he steers Qafila to victory
An A$450,000 Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase for Shadwell Stud, Qafila was able to notch a deserved big race success after an unlucky run in last Saturday’s Australasian Oaks at the same track over 2000 metres.
Qafila has raced in stakes races in all but one of her career starts after kick starting her racing life with an impressive win in the listed Debutant Stakes at Caulfield as an early two-year-old.
The filly raced in a Blue Diamond Stakes and Golden Slipper and before today’s Derby triumph had also been successful in the Group Two Angus Armanasco Stakes.
The win provided the powerful Lindsay Park training team of David Hayes, son Ben and nephew Tom Dabernig with another big race success. It was the second Group One for jockey Cory Parish after his success in a Caulfield Cup aboard Perth Yearling Sale graduate Boom Time.
“She deserves this Group One,” co-trainer Ben Hayes said. “She’s been competing at this high level for her whole career and it’s fantastic to get the win for Shadwell.”
“They’re our biggest supporter so to get a Group One for Shadwell is a huge thrill for me – and I’m so thrilled for (Qafila), it makes her very valuable now.”
“She’s pulled up out of this race so fantastic – she’s hardly had a blow. She’s done such a huge job.”
“Well done to Cory – that’s his second Group One. He rode her just like Boom Time when he won the Caulfield Cup – it was amazing.”
Parish said the win would help those who doubted his ability in the saddle, saying his Caulfield Cup win was no fluke.
“She’s such a strong horse,” an emotional Parish said. “I travelled pretty close, but I was travelling really well and when I went around Stephen Baster I thought, you’ve gone there too soon, but she just pulled herself there.”
“I just had to keep her where she was happy. We got to the front and I drew the stick on her and she just kept finding.”
“She did it easy to the line to be honest,” Parish added.
Qafila, a daughter of Gold Coast Yearling Sale graduate Not a Single Doubt, was bred by Woodpark Stud and is the first Australian Group One winner bred from their Mittagong property.
The filly was sold at the 2017 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale by Attunga Stud, as agent for Woodpark, and she caught the eye of Shadwell’s Angus Gold who went to $450,000 to secure her.
The 10th individual Gr1 winner for Arrowfield Stud’s superstar sire Not a Single Doubt, Qafila is the first runner for the good looking grey Tapit mare Zighy Bay.
Zighy Bay was placed in France and is a three quarter sister to American group winner Sacristy and half sister to the Japanese group winner Mozu Superflare.
International Group One winners in her pedigree include Jersey Girl, Purge and Jersey Town while it’s also the family of Australian based stakes winning sire St. Petersburg.
Qafila capped what was a resounding day for graduates of Magic Millions sales around Australia.
Winner: Qafila
Breeding: Not a Single Doubt-Zighy Bay (Tapit)
Sold for: $450,000
Sale: 2017 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale
Vendor: Attunga Stud (As Agent)
Buyer: Shadwell Australasia
Earnings: $697,170
Owner(s): Shadwell Stud Australasia Ltd Syndicate (Mgr: GM Kelly)
Trainer(s): David & Ben Hayes & Tom Dabernig (Morphettville)
