Darling View Thoroughbreds freshman Splintex sired his first winner at Ascot on Saturday when They’reallsisters turned the tables on Boy Crush (Manhattan Rain) in the $80,000 Magic Millions Plate (1200m).
They’reallsisters (2f Splintex – River Hussy by Husson) had been runner-up to Boy Crush on debut a fortnight ago and she looked like playing second fiddle again when the colt kept lifting in front for Holly Watson.
Not to be outdone, Lucy Fiore got busy with the persuader and the complexion of the race changed in an instant. They’reallsisters responded with a late rush to score by a neck and they streeted the others with four lengths to third-placed Sovereign Rock (Awesome Rock).
“Willie (Pike) was on her first-up and on Wednesday he told me, ‘You will love riding her. She’s ready to win’. She was cruising in running and did get a bit lost in the straight but the racing experience from that first start helped.”
Splintex (Snitzel) was a Group 2 winning sprinter at Flemington and Randwick and there are 75 foals from his first crop conceived at Darling View in Mundijong. The best of his other first-crop runners to date has been Ascot placegetter London Rose for owner-trainer Mike Santich.
They’reallsisters opens Splintex’s winning account at Ascot Photo : Western Racepix
They’reallsisters was a $90,000 buy out of the Ridgeport Farm draft to the 2025 Perth Magic Millions. Trainer David Harrison kept a share with Ryan Fuller, Brad Willison, Premium Bloodstock’s Grant Burns and Ridgeport manager Marge Ojapold.
Ojapold bred the filly and she is a younger half-sister to Bold Hero (Rommel) who improved his record to 4 wins in 9 starts at Ascot on January 17. Their dam River Hussy has a Splintex colt on the ground for Ojapold at Waroona.
They’reallsisters is vying for favouritism ahead of the RL Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) at Pinjarra on February 14 and Harrison knows what it takes to win the $250,000 juvenile feature race. She can make it five for the Bridge Patrol trainer following Rose Of Thunder (2003), Western Fever (2011), Jericho Missile (2019) and Gemma’s Son (2020).
“She’s fit so we will just poke along for the next three weeks,” Harrison said. “She’s a natural and a pretty laid-back filly. I liked the way she got to the line today and she’s right up there with my other Magic Millions Classic winners.”
Splintex has 25 second-crop yearlings entered for the Magic Millions Sale on February 19 and 20. First to parade is the Darling View chestnut filly from Capitalist mare Hazira (Lot 3). The dam hails from the black-type ‘Discreet’ family and her first foal – a Playing God filly now named Divine Mirage – sold to Neville Parnham for $100,000 last year.
