Two fine debutantes

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We were delighted with the debut of two young fillies at Sale yesterday.


REALITY SHOW (High Chaparral (IRE) ex Let’s Get Famous) is a filly that has developed wonderfully over the past month.

She is a grand-daughter of LET’S ELOPE and half sister to the stable’s Group winner LET’S MAKE ADEAL and four-time winner HEEZ NOTORIOUS.

Knowing the family well, Nigel has brought her along cautiously as a two-year-old. The family benefit when given the opportunity to mature and when given the opportunity to run over middle and long distances.

A few weeks ago, serious consideration was given to sending her for a well-earned spell. But the degree of her improvement she showed in two jump outs, and her willingness to please, prompted Nigel and Arrowfield Stud connections to give her a race experience.

Rather than have Reality Show run off her feet over 1400m, the mile race at Sale for two-year-olds was considered an ideal starting point for her career. Even more so with the small field of five runners.

When the field quickened approaching the home turn, Reality Show took a few strides to work out what was going on. But by the time she reached the 300m point in the straight, she lengthened stride and was very strong late in the race to run down all bar the winner, Hard Ruler. Watch the race replay here.

Reality Show
Reality Show, 2nd in the 2YO Maiden Plate at Sale June 18, 2017. (Leonie Grbic / Racing Photos)

Ross Wilkinson is one of the thousands of owner/breeders that form the foundation of Australian racing.

LADY OF FLANDERS (Viking Ruler ex Pas De Retraite) is the latest runner from the family of OUT OF THE WOODS that Ross and late wife Sandra Lawrence bred and have raced.

Lady of Flanders is a daughter of PAS DE RETRAITE, herself a grand-daughter of OUT OF THE WOODS. She was a winner from just seven starts and is a half-sister to TINY’S LEGACY, BALACLAVA LADY, VIKING RANSOM and ARTHURIAN.

Like Reality Show, Lady of Flanders has improved each time she has stepped out in a jump out. Nigel took her to Sale yesterday with the belief she would run well and be competitive despite showing signs she is not a natural 1000m horse.

It was unfortunate that she drew wide for her first race start. Rather than accept being posted four-wide at her race debut and potentially impacting her race manners for the future, Ben Allen did the right thing and searched for some cover back in the field.

In doing so we admit that Lady of Flanders probably lost a bit of ground in the process, difficult to regain over the short 1008m distance. Her closing finish in the straight to run second by 1.5 lengths, was full of merit.

Watch the race replay here.