Last week was a busy one for Magic Millions WA Manager David Houston with entries closing for the 2027 Perth Magic Millions Yearling Sale on Friday but he took time out to savour the win of Vienna Calling at Pinjarra on Wednesday.
Houston races Vienna Calling (I’m All The Talk) and she won the Electrical Consultancy Maiden (1200m) after a promising first-up placing behind Properata (Pierata) at Belmont last month. Trained by Trevor Andrews, she stepped a length clear from the inside barrier before settling midfield on the fence behind front-runner Champagne Talks (I’m All The Talk).
Angled wide into the straight by Brad Parnham, she ranged up to the leaders at the furlong and then held off the late charge of Oscars No Grouch (Long Leaf) to score by a half-length.
Vienna Calling (Photo / Western Racepix) is from the final crop sired by I’m All The Talk (Stratum) at Darling View Thoroughbreds and her dam Strike For Victory (Smart Missile) is a three-quarter sister to G3 WA Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) winner Debellatio (Smart Missile).
“Part of the thrill was it was the first win in my colours that are a replica (except for the cap) of the colours of an old boss of mine Rob Ferguson,” Houston revealed.
“They were carried by Ha Ha when she won the 2001 Golden Slipper. She was a Danehill filly that I selected for Rob from the Gold Coast Magic Millions Sale.
“Vienna Calling was passed-in for $40,000 at the 2024 Perth Magic Millions Winter Yearling Sale,” Houston added. “I had purchased Strike For Victory off the track from Joe O’Neill at Prime Thoroughbreds.
“She bolted in by 10 lengths in a 2yo trial but didn’t train on for one of his syndicates. She only cost $4,000 and is now three from three as a broodmare.”
Her first foal Cruise To Victory (Lucky Street) won at Belmont for Williams Racing and has added another three victories during the current Broome season for Darryn Pateman to send his earnings through $235,000. Lucky Street filly Karnup Queen followed and she won the Boundary Island Sprint (940m) at the historic Lark Hill meeting on the Anzac Day long weekend before finishing a close second to Mississippi Dawn (Pierro) at Ascot.
Strike For Victory has a new-season 2yo colt by Darling View sire Lightsaber that was purchased by Kingsgrove Stud’s Shannara Beresi as a weanling for $12,000 at the 2025 Magic Millions Winter Sale. “He paraded like a real athlete as a yearling at the Magic Millions in February,” Houston recalled. “There was plenty of interest and Jason Miller got him for $120,000.”
Miller bought five yearlings in the Swan Valley and the Lightsaber colt was only topped by the Playing God filly from Jaguar Grey (My Admiration). She is from a full-sister to his G3 Champion Fillies (1600m) winner Admiration Express and was knocked down for $140,000.
“He’s a quality colt with a beautifully balanced pedigree,” Miller said. “We were very pleased to secure him. He’s from the first crop by Lightsaber who is a Group-winning son of Zoustar.”
Vienna Calling was the first-leg of a winning treble by I’m All The Talk at Pinjarra and she was followed by the Serge Madrigali-bred Too Much Talk and the Jan Williamson-bred Swansee.
