Smart filly on stakes trail

11 February 2014

The well-named Sports Illustrated showed her style on the big stage at Te Rapa on Saturday when she won on the Group One undercard. The Garry Chittick-bred and raced filly gave ample evidence she was a black type filly in waiting with a powerful performance to claim her second victory in four career starts.

“She’s a big, rangy horse for a three-year-old and we might look at something like the Breeders’ Stakes at Te Aroha and give her a race or two beforehand,” said Andrew Forsman, who prepares her at Cambridge with Murray Baker.

A daughter of Fast ‘n’ Famous and the Pins mare Pin Up, Sports Illustrated was a winner at her New Plymouth debut and was unplaced before she finished third at Ellerslie after a wide trip. She was dropped back in the field today by Mark Du Plessis and came with a sustained finish from last at the 600 metre mark to win with authority.

The Corner with Garry Chittick

“The Carnival is Over”, and what a joy it was. Four days of top-class racing, renewed crowds, increased wagering; once again Melbourne has put on an event that they are so capable of. Is this the resurrection, partly, possibly, but a long way to go.

12 November 2026

Noverre’s Withallmywish Too Classy At Te Aroha

Having just her second start off the back of a debut third, the Ms V Tang bred and raced 3yo Noverre filly Withallmywish produced a professional display over 1150m at Te Aroha on Thursday to break her maiden in fine style.