Well-bred 3YO stakes Derby claims
13 March 2011
Do Ra Mi Makes Sweet Music
A change of tactics with the WS-bred and owned Do Ra Mi proved a
masterstroke when the filly posted a sensational victory in Saturday’s Gr 2
Kewney Stakes at Flemington. The three-year-old had raced on the pace in
recent starts but trainer Peter Moody announced pre-race they would be
riding the filly cold and jockey Michael Walker carried out the changed
instructions to perfection.
”I told him to ‘wait, wait wait. You need to be the last man standing
because there will be a ton of speed on’,” Moody said. He had favoured
running Do Ra Mi in the Schweppervescence Trophy over 1600 metres later in
the day but bowed to the wishes of her owner and breeder Garry Chittick to
contest the 1400-metre event. ”Garry wanted to run her in a Group to help
out Savabeel and I said this might be the day to ride her back in the field
because I’ve got three other on-pace fillies in the race and I want one of
those to lead so it might be a good time to ride her cold,” Moody said.
”We just haven’t had her in a race where she’s had that opportunity [to sit
back]. She’s a good-quality filly from a terrific family and it’s great to
see that Gr 2 up beside her name and now we might go hunting something a
little bigger in Sydney,” he said.
Do Ra Mi settled at the tail-end of the big field and was angled wide on the
home turn to make her run. She showed a dashing turn of foot to sail home
down the outside of the track and raced clear to beat the Gr 1 VRC Oaks
winner Brazilian Pulse by a widening two and a-quarter lengths. ”Once I let
her down she put paid to them within three or four strides,” Walker said.
Do Ra Mi is a daughter of the farm’s Cox Plate winner Savabeel and is a
half-sister to the home-bred Gr 1 Australasian Oaks winner Marju Snip
(Marju) and the Gr 2 Hong Kong Derby Trial winner Unique Jewellery. They are
out of the winning Snippets mare Aulide who is in turn out of the Gr 1 NZ
1000 Guineas and NZ Oaks winner Candide.
Although in the very early stages of her career, Do Ra Mi has already
fashioned an excellent record. She has been successful three times from
seven appearances and her two placings include a runner-up finish in the Gr
3 Vanity Stakes.
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