Trainer Russell Stewart fronted the media a relieved man after Earthstorm finally broke her duck in the TABtouch Plate (1400m) at Ascot on Saturday.
The Calyx (GB) filly was still a maiden going into her ninth start but the win dispelled any doubts about her ability to go through the ranks. And that may well continue interstate with Stewart indicating an intended transfer to Grahame Begg at Cranbourne.
“She’s got some tricks and I was nervous going into this race. But credit to the barrier staff and Stevie (Parnham) for the ride. She’s had enough this prep and will go for a spell now. There’s no better man with a filly than Grahame and he can deal with her in Melbourne.”
Earthstorm settled down to fight out a head-bobbing finish with What’s The Point (Bull Point) after being given time to settle. “It was a muddling run race and she quickened nicely,” Parnham reported. “We probably got there sooner than planned but she’s still learning and feels like a progressive filly.”
Ruby Racing & Breeding’s Bridie O’Bree had purchased her dam Bombay (Encosta de Lago) from Coolmore Stud for $30,000 at the 2021 Inglis Australian Broodmare Sale when she was carrying a positive to Calyx (Kingman). The best of Bombay’s stock prior to transferring west were the High Chapparal winners Chandana, Chapal and Gold Dragon. Their second-dam Sarsota (Danehill) is a sister to Fastnet Rock.
Stewart outlaid $60,000 for Earthstorm at the 2023 Perth Magic Millions and her prizemoney now totals over $220,000 for a syndicate that includes his wife Antonella, son James, Rapid Equine’s Neil Irvine and Ruby’s Rod O’Bree who kept a share.
Most of that bank was accumulated earlier this year with placings in the G2 Karrakatta Plate, G3 Gimcrack Stakes and LR Supremacy Stakes. She was all set to add more black-type in the G3 Champion Fillies Stakes (1600m) last month before being withdrawn by order of the stewards when unable to be loaded into the barriers.
“My son Kye has been doing a lot of work behind the scenes and she has all the gear,” Stewart said while itemizing a barrier blanket, blindfold and ear-muffs. “And we still can’t get her into my float so it’s costing me money to send her with Granthams!”
Earthstorm is the latest winning graduate from Ruby Racing & Breeding this season headed by Starry Heights (Star Turn) in the LR Boulder Cup (2100m) and LR Kalgoorlie Cup (2300m). Others include Bohemian Diamond (Maschino) at Belmont, Girls Day Out (Long Leaf) at Northam and Boussac (Ducimus) at Bunbury.
Looking ahead to the 2025 sale season, Ruby Racing & Breeding has the first yearlings by its 2020 graduate Tiger Of Malay (Extreme Choice) catalogued for the Magic Millions. He sold for $255,000 to China Horse Club at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale and won the G2 Brisbane Sires Produce Stakes (1400m) and the G3 Up And Coming Stakes (1300m) before retiring to Newgate Farm.
“Across the board, the Tiger of Malays are mentally relaxed and easy to deal with,” Daniel O’Bree said in October. “Our colt from Dundeel mare Silk Touch is a wonderfully balanced, strong type and is improving every month.”
