Valuable filly STROLL provided an overdue Mode Stakes success for Proven Thoroughbreds and O’Dea-Hoysted Racing at Doomben on Saturday.
In a nail-biting photo finish, STROLL got her head down right on the wire for Boris Thornton, defeating the previously undefeated CHINNY BOOM.
Watching the race in real-time we had all but conceded victory, until the slow-motion replay revealed the barest of margins in favour of STROLL.
Having finished runner-up in the 2016 and 2020 editions of the 1200m Listed 3YO Fillies event with CANDIKA and GOTTA KISS respectively, you could say we had some unfinished business in this race, so it was probably a case of third time lucky on Saturday!
STROLL, a daughter of champion sire SNITZEL, carries the weight of being Proven Thoroughbreds’ most expensive ever yearling, having been knocked down for $450k at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale.
To date, her career has been a resounding success with two stakes wins from just six starts. Her first black type scalp came in last season’s Listed Bill Carter Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm where she got the better of subsequent Group 1 winner ZOUGOTCHA.
Given her pedigree and racing upside, STROLL’s market value would now be in the vicinity of $1 million – a just reward for her owners who outlaid a substantial investment less than two years ago.
The syndicate includes her breeder Gerry Harvey who has a half-brother by ZOUSTAR heading to next month’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale under the Baramul Stud consignment.
STROLL becomes Proven’s 9th feature race winner in 2022 (25% of our total number of winners this year!) and will get an opportunity to add to that tally when she tackles the $300,000 Group 3 Vo Rogue Plate (1350m) back at Doomben on New Year’s Eve.
Meanwhile, CONTEMPTUOUS, a brave second in Saturday’s Group 3 George Moore Stakes (1200m), will also aim to join Proven’s haul of 2022 stakes winners when he contests the Listed Falvelon Stakes (1200m) at Doomben in three weeks.