22 March 2024
Having handed Widden Studs ZOUSAIN (Zoustar) his first winner at Hawkesbury in February on debut, the two-year-old filly, DRIFTING, progressed from her second placing at Listed level down the Flemington straight to win the Group Three Magic Night Stakes over 1200m at Rosehill last weekend.
Bred by Baddock Bloodstock and purchased from the Murrulla Stud draft at the 2023 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale by WJB in conjunction with Snowden Racing for A$160,000, the chestnut filly was the sole purchase at the sale.
Racing in the Throsby family colours, the temptation to back up in the Golden Slipper one week was put on hold in favour of targeting the Group Two Percy Sykes Stakes over 1200m at Randwick in early April.
Out of the once raced BIG BROWN (Boundary) mare, BACKPACKER EXPRESS, the filly was purchased two months before BIG BROWN was to become the broodmare sire of MAGE (Good Magic), the Kentucky Derby winner. He is also the broodmare sire of ROOTS (Press Statement) and her sister ARCTIC THUNDER which WJB purchased and raced alongside Derby Racing/de Burgh Equine.
The William Inglis Classic Yearling Sale is considered a ‘type’ sale and this filly is a true advertisement of that being by an unproven first season sire out of a mare by a stallion with limited success in Australia.
Interestingly, BACKPACKER EXPRESS‘s half-sister, DOWNHILL RACER, also won the Magic Night Stakes as a two-year-old – highlighting the importance of buying from families with success at two years of age if that is the mission.
DRIFTING joins HUETOR (2xG1W), OLD FLAME (G2W) & UNSPOKEN ($1M+ earner) as recent purchases by WJB in conjunction with the Snowden team.
If you are interested in getting involved with a two-year-old type, get in touch!
